'CATCHES win matches' is an adage often used to explain why teams have lost, having put down their chances.

WEST MALVERN V ACME

West Malvern proved the point by holding onto some fine catches to dismiss the heart of the London touring side. By doing so they restricted their scoring rate and ACME took over two hours to score 73.

In their defence it was a day for swing bowling, which the home side exploited to the full, and the damp outfield made it hard to score boundaries. Alex Hall started the rot by taking a sharp chance at point off O'Connell's first ball.

Phil Chaundy's catch at short leg was even better and others followed at first slip, second slip and mid wicket.

By the end of their innings Peter O'Connell had figures of 1-10 off 7 overs, Alex Hall 3-11 off 5.5 overs and Bob Blackbourn 5-28 off 12 overs.

When the West started their innings they lost three wickets cheaply before Phil Chaundy and Duncan Cooper led the way home in a no nonsense fashion, Cooper closing the home sides innings with a six over long off.

West Malvern won by six wickets.