AS the season drew to a close last week for Malvern's 1st XI and 2nd XI teams, Malvern entertained Northamptonshire Health Service in a friendly.

MALVERN v NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HEALTH SERVICE

It was a rather grim start to the game with Malvern winning the toss and electing to field first.

It was a very wise decision by the captain Ray Evans, with Mike Cunneen and veteran Martin Mudway opening the bowling attack. After the first few overs, Northamptonshire were going at a reasonably slow pace until Cunneen struck with a faster delivery to uproot the middle stump and send the opening batsman to the pavilion.

The number three batsman wasn't at the crease very long thanks to another tight piece of bowling from Cunneen, caught by the wicket keeper Ian Walwyn. The next batsman made an immediate impact hitting a series of fours and sixes against Andy Croft, Ray Evans and Richard Cullen. Nonetheless Croft and Evans were bowling tight stuff to keep the pressure on.

Then with a wise decision from the captain, Cunneen came back on and almost immediately the 16-year-old dismissed the number four batsman, falling seven runs short of his well deserved century.

After some good bowling from Evans, Carter grabbing a few priceless wickets and Mudway collecting a deserved wicket, the visitors got to 190 runs at the end of their innings.

Ian Walwyn and Richard Cullen were the opening batsmen for Malvern and got off to the same speed as the opposition until the opening bowler bowled Walwyn.

Keith Williams and Cullen created a great partnership of 74 until Williams was out with a great 27 runs to his name.

Baugh was next up alongside Cullen who later reached his half century before being out. After more wickets fell it was an unlikely talks of getting to 191, which inevitably Malvern didn't even though Evans was bravely attacking the opposition with some first class shots. In the end Malvern came out second best.