MALVERN II v COOMBS WOOD II

THIS game started in the gloom as Malvern won the toss and decided to field.

Opening the bowling with Laws (1-23) and Whitecross (1-19) and some inspired all round fielding Malvern applied pressure from the start. In the first 10 overs all Coombs Wood could score was 31 runs. The first two wickets were taken by Laws and Whitecross.

First change saw Mudway come on and bowl a sustained miserly spell, with figures of 17 overs, 3-34. He was well supported at the Regency Road end by Mitchell, 10 overs, 2-31 and Rob Perrins who came on to bowl the final overs and wrapped up the tail with 3.1 overs, three wickets for one run, just missing out on a hat-trick.

Malvern fielded brilliantly with some very close run-out calls, tight covering and some excellent catching.

The champagne moment being the catch Cullen took completely off the ground at full stretch to dismiss Moseley for 17.

Coombs Wood finished all out for 122 runs in 47.1 overs.

In reply, Malvern opened with Cullen and Walwyn. They carried on from their 154 partnership last week and raced to a 105-run stand at five runs an over.

Richard Cullen fell first on 53, two balls after reaching his 50 with a huge six over midwicket. Walwyn was out shortly after stumped for 30 of the bowling of Jackson.

This brought Arnold and Whitecross to the wicket with 17 left to score. Arnold made short work of this by taking 13 runs of the 25th over, including two massive 6s, to win the game.

Malvern Seconds got to 123-2 off 24.1 overs, securing an eight-wicket win.

No play on bank holiday Monday as the game with Feckenham was rained off.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Malvern seconds are at home to Luctonians.