SEAM bowler Dave Truby is reaping the rewards of hard graft after taking a personal-best 8-36 for Old Elizabethans Seconds.

Worcester-born-and-bred Truby missed just one training session during the winter and had not previously bagged more than three wickets in a match.

But the 25-year-old caused havoc with his right-arm inswingers, reducing Attock Seconds from 100-1 to 169 all out in Saturday’s Birmingham and District League Division One 2nd XI clash.

With a fine 55 from Jake Saunders, OE’s eased past the Warwickshire’s side total in the 40th over to register a six-wicket away triumph.

The only disappointment for Truby was his failure to pocket the match ball after his devastating nine-over spell because he wanted to take it home as a lasting reminder.

It has been a memorable start to the season for Truby whose previous best figures of 3-19 were achieved just seven days earlier in a home fixture against Walsall Seconds.

“I got the ball to swing and move off the seam at Attock and I had three batsmen caught at mid-off, two caught behind, one bowled and two lbw,” recalled Truby.

“I was delighted when I got to five wickets because that was the first time I had ever taken five and I just finished them off.

“The first person I rang was my mum. She was thrilled for me. She said she’d been waiting for something like it to happen for the past couple of years.

“I tried to find the ball but I think the umpire must have taken it. It would have made a nice keepsake but unfortunately I couldn’t see it anywhere.”

Truby has played for the Worcester club since joining as a junior and worked particularly hard on his bowling during the winter.

“The club starting training in mid-January and I only missed one session so I was working hard in the nets,” he said.

“I have been feeling good with my bowling lately. I have grown in confidence and seem to be able to control my bowling a lot more.”

He has already snapped up 13 wickets in the league and is hoping to at least double that tally before the end of the season.

“I have not really set myself a goal – I just want to continue as I am,” he said.

“I don’t think I will be missing a league match this summer – I haven’t got any plans to go away – so I would be happy with 30 to 35 wickets.”

The bowler’s passion for cricket grew from when he was a pupil at Perdiswell Primary and members of OE’s visited the school to put on fun sessions.

Truby’s parents also lived close to Old Elizabethans’ ground and he used to play in the nets when he was a child.

Truby’s top score with the bat is 83 not out against Himley Seconds, although he was once dismissed for 97 in a friendly match against Ombersley.

But he admitted: “Taking eight wickets is definitely the best thing I have achieved in cricket – I am ecstatic with it.

"I try to bowl inswingers and the ball was moving in the air and also seaming off the pitch. It’s a day I don’t think I will ever forget.”