OLIVER Griffiths is fast cementing his position as Malvern College's talisman as a cricketer.

In the traditional speech day fixture against the Free Foresters on Saturday, he almost single handedly carried Malvern to an emphatic 125 run victory.

The College elected to bat first on a wicket considerably dampened by overnight rain.

They found the going hard but the arrival of Griffiths at the crease enlightened proceedings as all he wants to do is crash the ball over the boundary.

Blessed with a good eye and natural timing, he manages to make it all look so exciting, but like a hot spell in an English summer, it rarely lasts for long. And so it was on this occasion as he perished to a brilliant catch at deep mid off, aiming for yet another boundary for his 50.

Solid support (41) was provided by Powell and Malvern were able to declare at 205-7.

In reply, the Free Foresters faltered in the face of some searching and disciplined spin bowling from Griffiths and Price. Griffiths finished with the startling analysis of 11-5-12-6 but Price bowled no less well, taking 3-38 off ten overs.

The innings subsided to 78 all out and the College boys left for their half term buoyed by their recent form and confident that they can reproduce it in their forthcoming final of the Chesterton Cup at the County Ground at New Road on Sunday (June 6) against the RGS, Worcester.