MALVERN entertained Oldswinford on Saturday and came away with another winning draw after a good-team effort with bat and ball.

MALVERN I v OLDSWINFORD I

Malvern batted first and Adam Dovey together with Mark Baugh put on 69 for the first wicket before the former was bowled for a good 37.

Mark Hooper looked in good form until he was dismissed for 12 and Rob Francis was unlucky to pick out mid-wicket with a pull shot as Malvern's innings hung in the balance at 107-3.

However, Paul Young played a classy innings for 26 and quickfire contributions from the lower order with David Arnold, particularly, playing some enterprising strokes helped Malvern to score 216. Baugh top scored with a solid 85 (eight fours and two sixes).

Malvern had a great start to their attack when Neil Thompson took a wicket with his first ball.

But for the next 20 overs, it was only frustration for Malvern as Francis and Thompson continually beat the bat in a superb spell of bowling.

Jeremy Lee and Dovey bowled some good overs in mid-innings but still the breakthrough was elusive.

Captain Luke Halion then made another of his shrewd tactical decisions and brought Hooper into the attack.

The move was immediately rewarded when Martino was bowled. Hooper continued to bowl well and took a further three wickets and suddenly Malvern looked like they might win.

Halion brought his premier bowlers Francis and Thompson back but Stanier played well and in the end Oldswinford stuck for a winning draw.

n Malvern travel to Romsley on Saturday.