West M`alvern I 187-6, Rushwick I 190-1.

WEST Malvern started the season with defeat taking on their much stronger counterparts at the Alf Tolley Memorial Ground.

After being inserted on an excellent early season pitch, Malvern went down by nine wickets in a 45-over match.

Rushwick’s Darren Freeman bowled with great control and menace, his 16-over spell only costing 40 runs.

The hosts suffered from their top order failing to make any telling scores.

However, Kevin Gilbert did make an impact, hitting 52, while Fred Walker made 35.

Poor catching allowed Rushwick’s openers to establish themselves as Duncan Cooper (25) and Mark Dobson (113) took the game away from Malvern.

Rushwick II 198-8, West Malvern II 124-8.

LIZ Dean was the star of the West Malvern bowling as she took five wickets for 18 off her allotted overs.

Rushwick, thanks to both Guy Powell and Paul Wyatt, who both retired on 50, managed to recover to set the visitors a competitive target of 198-8 at Mathon Court.

The visitors were never able to settle into their innings, however, with an early collapse leaving the score on 55-5.

Dean (35 no) was not given any support from the other end, until she was joined at the crease by veteran Tim Mills.

The pair put on an undefeated 58 for the ninth wicket, adding some credibility to the total.

Tibberton I 74 all-out, West Malvern 78-4.

WEST Malvern’s Sunday team gave the club some joy on the opening weekend of the season.

James Blackshaw and Joe Bird’s swing and pace troubled the Tibberton batsmen but it took until the 10th over for Bird to take the first wicket, trapping Sheen leg-before.

Will Lloyd took 3-13 and Martin Woodward impressed with his flight and guile to finish on 3-4.

Malvern were a bit shaky in reaching their target of just 74, but Gilbert and Walker saw them home with half of their 40 overs remaining.