Stourbridge 296-7 dec, Malvern 231-7.

AN overcast day, a good track and a tricky outfield all combined to make an interesting Crusader Worcestershire League Division One contest between hosts Stourbridge and Malvern.

Stourbridge elected to bat first and Joshua Banks made 43 before returning a catch to Adam Dovey.

At 126-2 from 31 overs, this represented a marked improvement for a Malvern bowling attack that considered themselves unlucky not to have picked up a couple more wickets.

Led by skipper Rich Bradley (87), Stourbridge cut loose in the latter stages of their innings.

Two wickets in the 43rd over from Poole had Malvern looking to keep the total to the 250 mark.

Youngster Biddle then weighed in with a brutal 52 from just 22 balls as Stourbridge declared on 296-7.

Olly Bendall (28), Luke Halion (46) and Lawrence Crowney (24) all batted well as Malvern kept up with the required run rate in the early stages at close to five- per-over and reached 142 from 31 overs. However, after losing six wickets, the Worcestershire side opted to bat out for a draw.

Jon Dovey (22) and Steve Carter (42no) batted with great patience and Malvern were able to reach 231-7 and come away with valuable points.

This losing draw leaves Malvern in ninth place in the table on 16 points after three games. Anthony Arnold, Malvern captain, said: “We’re trying to find our feet in this division and have shown to be gutsy and determined in our performances so far, and this was again apparent in our display against Stourbridge.”

Malvern host Worcester at their Regency Road ground tomorrow (1.30pm start) in their latest league encounter.

Malvern Seconds suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Worcester in Crusader Worcestershire League Division Seven.

Batting first, Malvern were skittled out for 145 while their opponents reached their target with the loss of just three wickets.