Vics back in title race at champions' expense

Saturday's 94-run moved them up to fifth, 40 points behind leaders Shrewsbury.

Pardoe admits they likely need to win all of their remaining four games to stand a chance of the title.

But with Kidderminster boasting a perfect record of seven wins from seven games in the 50-over format, that is certainly possible.

The fact their final two games are against Shrewsbury and Berkswell – the current top two – is another delicious element to throw into the mix.

For now Pardoe, who struck a sublime 137 from 126 balls, is simply enjoying the spirit a return to the 50-over game has brought to his side.

The captain said: "It has given us a chance to go out there and play positive cricket. If you mess up, you mess up.

"We are playing without fear and it is giving players the chance to express themselves.

"If you look at the remaining fixtures, you would say the games with Berkswell and Shrewsbury are 40-point games with the swing at stake.

"The likelihood is we will need to win all four games to stand a chance but if we do, I'm sure we will be there or thereabouts."

Pardoe described the win at reigning champions Dartmouth as a day when everything "just seemed to go right."

The result ended the hosts' own hopes of retaining their title but always looked the most likely outcome, after the visiting skipper's innings had helped his team rack up 345-8 batting first.

West Bromwich skipper Kadeer Ali then departed after just making 37 in the reply – a wicket Pardoe believes was the key moment.

He said: "As soon as got Kadeer out, we felt we had the game in the bag – that was the big wicket.

"It was a really good performance, a fantastic win at a place where we haven't had the best of results in the past."

Wolverhampton's battle against the drop meanwhile looks like going down to the wire after they were beaten by four wickets at Ombersley.

The Danescourt club were always up against it after being bowled out for just 126 batting first, with opener James Hammond (32) the only batsman to pass 20.

But the hosts made a fight of it as Matt Kleinveldt and Chris Russell took two wickets apiece, but they ultimately had too few points to play with.

Walsall stand on the brink of promotion from back to the Premier Division after a crushing nine-wicket win over Harborne.

James Pearce claimed 8-35 as rampant Walsall skittled the hosts for just 84 in 18.3 overs, before James Middleton's quick-fire 43, from just 21 balls, saw them chase down the target in less than 10 overs.

Smethwick remain second after beating Wellington under the Duckworth-Lewis method. Skipper Vikram Sodhi top scored with 47.

A masterful innings of 124 from Indian overseas star Wasim Jaffer, meanwhile, helped Himley record a first win in four weeks.

Penkridge's hopes of promotion from Division Two are all but over after a rain affected defeat at Eastnor left them 75 points adrift of second-placed Sutton Coldfield.

Halesowen are up to fifth with a 37-run win over Shifnal, while Wombourne took a big step towards safety thanks to a six-wicket win over Brewood.

Stourbridge recorded an emphatic 194-run win at Tamworth, bowling the hosts out for just 75, with Audy Alexander taking 5-7.

Cannock & Rugeley Hawks are all but promoted from Division Three, after a five-wicket win over Worcester.