MALVERN started their league season at Bewdley and came away with 14 points after a thrilling match ended in a tie.

BEWDLEY I v MALVERN I

Malvern, already weakened, were further hampered when an 11th hour withdrawal meant they took the field with only ten.

New captain Luke Halion won the toss and invited the home side to bat. Malvern's reliable opening pair of Rob Francis and Neil Thompson started superbly and both were soon amongst the wickets. A brilliant stumping by wicket keeper David Arnold put Malvern on top and when Adam Dovey removed Bewdley's main danger man, Mark Bennett, Malvern sensed they could bowl Bewdley out cheaply.

A fine partnership of 80 for the eighth wicket between Flack and Meek ensured the home side posted a competitive total of 163.

Malvern's opening pair of Arnold and Mark Baugh started in confident fashion scoring all around the wicket. They put on 55 from the first wicket before Baugh was trapped lbw for 28.

Arnold followed swiftly after, adjudged lbw. Halion and Francis rallied the innings again, in contrasting styles, Halion with some elegant shots and Francis some awesome straight hitting.

Their departure precipitated a nerve racking finale. Dovey and Carter added some useful runs but eight runs were needed for a Malvern victory off the final over.

Two singles before Mark Mitchell smacked a boundary off the third ball and Malvern were on the verge of a win. However Mitchell and Thompson were dismissed in successive balls, to leave Malvern on the verge of a terrible defeat.

Last man Scott, who had sustained an injury, hobbled to the wicket and managed a single but Dovey, in attempting the run that would have given Malvern the win, was narrowly run out to leave the scores tied.