DESPITE an excellent unbeaten hundred by Will Gifford, Kidderminster Victoria had to settle for a winning draw in their Birmingham League Premier Division match against Old Hill.

Gifford hit 13 fours and three sixes in his 113 not out as KVCC posted 239-4 from their 55 overs.

Old Hill reached 167-8 in reply as they hung on for a share of the points.

The match could have gone Kidderminster's way but for the stubborn batting of Old Hill's former Gloucestershire player James Pearson, who was unbeaten on 63.

Old Hill won the toss and invited KVCC to bat. Openers Jonathan Wright and Mark Mansell scored 32 and 20 respectively, but it was the partnership between Gifford and Craig Wood that built up a big score. Having scored 35, Wood retired with an eye problem and was replaced by wicketkeeper Josh Knappett who continued the good work.

He had scored 25 when he became Attiq-ur-Rehman's third scalp when the score was on 229-3 with one over left.

Nigel Davenport was run out for five and Ted Baylis had no time to open his account.

A superb innings by Gifford had the large crowd showing their appreciation as they had done the previous week when he also scored a century for Worcestershire's seconds on the same ground.

Rehman took 3-64 in 12 overs.

The Old Hill innings started sensationally. Four batsmen were back in the pavilion with only 18 runs on the board.

Left-hand medium pace bowler Jonathan Miles had been hit for 11 runs off his first 15 balls but trapped Ishtiaq lbw for nine with the fifth ball of his third over.

In his next over he had Khan leg before for a duck and Rehman caught by Wright also for a duck.

Baylis had been bowling superbly and was rewarded with a wicket in his fifth over. He had Mateen caught by Knappett for seven.

KVCC rang the changes with Craig Siwicki taking a wicket in his first over and Vishal Bhatia getting two -- Khalid for 38 and Willetts for 13.

Mansell had L Rehman lbw for 11, but Pearson was not to be removed finishing with 63 not out.

A good performance by KVCC consolidated their mid-table position. Miles took 3-31, Bhatia 2-51 Siwicki 1-3 and Mansell 1-8.

Baylis took 1-25 but only conceded 25 runs in 13 overs, including five maidens.