MALVERN Seconds travelled to Cookley and played a rain-affected match on Saturday.

COOKLEY II V MALVERN II

Malvern skipper Rich Cullen lost the toss and the Cookley captain put Malvern in to bat. Cookley struck after just three balls when Grove was bowled for a duck.

This brought Andy Cullen to the crease who immediately set about attacking the Cookley bowling. With support from Ian Walwyn and Ian Dovey, Malvern had reached 89 before Cullen was dismissed for an impressive 61.

Neil Thompson and Paul Jauncey carried on the scoring with some fine batting, but with Malvern on 111-4 the rain started and forced a two-hour delay in the proceedings,

When the Malvern batsmen finally returned to the crease, the match had been shortened to 32 overs a side.

Jauncey was quickly bowled for 0, but Mark Mitchell (27) and Neil Thompson (48no) smashed Malvern to a very respectable 188 off 32 overs.

With some tight bowling from the Malvern openers Ian Laws and Mark Mitchell, Cookley opening batsman Cartwright was soon rushed into a shot and was caught brilliantly in the covers by Rich Cullen, off the bowling of Mitchell.

Laws was next to strike, bowling Pestridge for just two. Unfortunately, Malvern could not capitalise on the good start, with just one more wicket falling in the penultimate over.

Jauncey's taking the wicket of Brown after an aggressive bowling spell.

Cookley finished on 100-3 off their 32 overs.

Malvern gained 12 points from the match and stay 12 points clear of Barnards Green at the top of the table.