AFTER Friday's heavy rain only hard work on the pitch made the game playable and the resultant surface was slow for both batsmen and bowlers alike but certainly the former were in the ascendant for most of the day.

WEST MALVERN v THE FOSSILS

For the West Brian Pleass (114 not out) and Philip Chaundy (80 not out) started slowly and Philip did give some chances but they rode their luck and both players accelerated brilliantly in the last 45 minutes of the home side's innings to post a good total of 203-1. The Fossils' excellent fielding was noteworthy and responsible for keeping the score from even greater heights. N Massey bowled 15 overs, 14 of them in succession from the start of the innings.

The Fossils started their innings as slowly as West Malvern had done and lost a few wickets too.

After a brief spell in the middle of their innings when R Clarke scored the bulk of his 57 runs they were almost up with the clock.

When his partner Southall retired the innings lost momentum and ended at 160-7 with the West just unable to make the final breakthrough. This match was drawn.