KIDDERMINSTER Victoria were skittled out for just 57 as they lost by four wickets to Walsall in the Birmingham League Premier Division.
With Mario Saliwa unexpectedly returning to South Africa, KVCC had to field a weakened side. Once again Arfan Khan (13-4-22-6) proved to be a more than useful bowler.
On a green wicket, KVCC, having lost the toss, found life difficult.
Openers Josh Knappett and Matt Layton took the score to 17 before Layton was out for 1.
Knappett, having hit two 6s, was then caught by Mo Sheikh off Andy Miller’s bowling.
The score had climbed to 24 when Neil Pinner was out without scoring.
Craig Wood was looking settled, but skipper Jonathan Wright was out leg-before to Williams for three.
Mark Mansell had scored only one when he was caught by Chris Tranter off the bowling of Paul Wicker.
Wood was finally stumped by David Middleton off Gray for 23. The score had risen to 56, but only one more run was added as Ted Baylis was bowled by Sheikh for six.
Andy Kimberlin, Gomez Vincent and Marc Derrick all failed to score with Gray getting one wicket and Sheikh the other two.
Khan was not out, but also failed to score.
However, Walsall did not have it all their own way. Tranter was bowled by Khan for a duck and the same bowler also removed Brad Wilson and Paul Baker.
Khan then had both Tim Maxfield and Sheikh caught by Knappett, before claiming his sixth wicket when Richard Mills was caught by Wright.
Andy Gray (26 not out) and Andy Miller (7no) finally gave Walsall a 20-point win that gives them hope for a third successive championship.
Baylis only conceded 19 runs from 13 overs, but Khan deserved all the plaudits.
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