STOKE PRIOR v MALVERN ARTEFACTS

ON Monday Malvern Artefacts played their first ever Evening League Cup game and were well beaten by a strong Stoke Prior side by eight wickets.

Malvern elected to bat first, a decision they were soon to regret, as the side slumped to 22-4. However, Adrian Haggar, playing his first competitive game for a number of years, took on the home bowlers, dispatching them to all parts of the ground. He passed 50 in just ten overs, and he was ably assisted by Derek Street (12) as they added 49 runs for the fifth wicket. After Street's dismissal the arrival of Lee Brookes (21no) gave late impetus as a further 41 runs were added in quick time. This saw the Artefacts' innings close on 112-5.

In reply, Stoke Prior got off to a slow start losing Young (1) and South African Van Vurren (11) with just 14 runs on the scoreboard. However that proved to be the end of the Artefacts' success as John (55no) and Small (37no) chased down the Malvern side's score with three overs to spare.

For the Artefacts Chris Burton (2-23) bowled accurately without luck.

Malvern now go into the Tansell Cup against local rivals Rushwick.

MALVERN ARTEFACTS v MCT

MALVERN Artefacts played their second game of the week with a home league game against MCT and won in exciting and tense circumstances.

Artefacts were invited to bat first and again got off to a poor start losing last week's hero Richard Burston (7) and he was soon followed by Jamie Drew (2). By now Ian Dovey (19) was finding some useful form with the bat, but the loss of Adrian Haggar (0) saw the innings languishing at 43-4.

A decisive partnership between Derek Street (26no) and Jason Brewer (24no) set about putting a competitive score together. They added 58 priceless runs in just six overs, which enabled the team to pass the 100 mark (101) off their ten overs for a valuable batting bonus point.

MCT captain Leroy Turberfield returned 3-8 off three overs.

In reply, MCT suffered early losses but G Owen (65no) was ably supported by M Sparks (21). But the dismissals of Cook and Turberfield with no additions to the score left the game balanced and the Worcester-based side finally required three runs to win off the last ball.

Owen struck the ball firmly, Phil Spencer's extended hand took the pace off and as Bonner scrambled back to the crease on the second run he was run out by Martin Jones and the Artefacts won by a single run.

The Artefacts take 12 points and on Tuesday they visit City Police at Old Elizabethans' ground.