MALVERN Cricket Club 2nds (formerly Malvern Ramblers) opened their WCL Division Two campaign with an impressive win over Oldswinford and a record-breaking performance from bowler Richard Neale.

Captain Dan Besgrove lost the toss and was invited to bat on a firm track, even after overnight rain. Openers Cox and Walwyn looked solid but at 38 both fell to C Fradgley's annoyingly slow but accurate spin. A mini-collapse ensued with only Richard Neale (25) showing any real confidence.

With his departure at 85 for 7, a score of over 100 seemed unlikely. However, Andy Croft, ably supported by David Knapper (U16) and Martin Mudway, kept a cool head and hit the bad balls well to give the score respectability.

When Croft fell for a very well deserved 45 the score was 148 all out. This seemed a competitive total in the drizzly weather.

Oldswinford looked solid in reply but Neale (returning after a year away from the club coaching cricket in Australia) produced two great deliveries to dismiss the openers.

No batsman really got settled and as the score crept up, so did the number of Neale's victims. He bowled an unbroken spell with lively pace on an improving wicket. This was surprising, since much of Oldswinford's innings was played in the rain and full credit goes to the opposition for staying with it.

Apart from losing wickets at regular intervals, Oldswinford were up with the run rate and could have claimed a win.

As Besgrove relieved the other opening bowler Mudway, he realised that he could not rest Neale since he had the chance of bagging the full set

Several of Oldswinford's batsmen were juniors who demonstrate that early coaching pays off, as they all played authentic straight bat shots. At 96-8 and then 110-9, excitement grew as Neale kept ripping each batsman's off-stump out.

When he bowled Gayden for eight, he sealed the victory and achieved an historic moment for the club and himself by taking all 10 wickets for 44 runs.

The previous record was held by P Harding (nine wickets) back in the early 1970s, strangely enough also against Oldswinford. Thanks to Neale's display Malvern Cricket Club gained the full 24 points from a well spirited game.

Neale, aged 21, of Priory Road, Malvern, said: "It didn't really dawn on me until the ninth wicket, but it was a great feeling to get the last one."

Thanks go to Crusader Sports for match sponsorship.