MALVERN produced their best team efforts this season with a thrilling last ball victory at Pedmore, made all the more significant since Malvern only had nine men.

MALVERN II v PEDMORE II

Pedmore skipper Maley asked Malvern to bat first on a rolled and very wet track and openers Walwyn and Cox needed all their skill to fend off the sharply rising deliveries due to the pitch.

Scoring was initially very slow at about two an over for the first 20 overs. Cox (29) holed out to a low catch and after the Cullen brothers departed, Walwyn was caught for 40.

A final score of 150 would have looked good at this stage. However, skipper Besgrove had other ideas and ably supported by Grove, the pair put on a great partnership of 109. The scoring rate climbed drastically as Besgrove hit fours and sixes back over the bowlers' heads. Whilst not pretty it was effective stuff. Besgrove was out in the 48th over for a splendid 70 that put Malvern back in the game. Grove (30) fell the next ball leaving Jonny Dovey to finish the innings of 204 with a six off the Pedmore captain.

Shrewd captaincy, tight bowling and fielding were required for the nine-man Malvern side to compete and his was evident with the Cullen brothers combining to produce a great stumping followed by a run out.

This put Pedmore on the defensive as Dovey, Grove and Mudway bowled a good line to restrict the batsmen. Richard Cullen then took a remarkable catch to dismiss Pedmore's highest scorer Jarrett for 40. Wickets fell regularly with Mudway and Dovey deserving their three wickets each.

With eight wickets down, Pedmore were more concerned about reaching 150 than with saving the game. A winning draw seemed likely until Grove bowled the last over.

Skipper Maley was stumped by Andy Cullen off the penultimate ball bringing last man Lacey to face one ball to draw. He duly obliged Malvern by gifting the ball into Walwyn's hands at silly mid-off which gave Malvern victory and 24 points off the last ball of the match.

A splendid effort from Malvern's nine men now sees them climbing the WCL Division Two table.