BARNARDS Green welcomed Malvern to North End Lane for an eagerly awaited local Worcestershire County League division two derby.

BARNARDS GREEN v MALVERN

With the Green flying high in second spot and Malvern having beaten Netherton the previous week, it promised to be a good battle.

With the coin landing favourably for Malvern on the rock hard surface, skipper Dave Arnold, in the knowledge of having only nine men at the ground, carefully considered his decision.

He then chose to ask the Green to bat. The Green made a solid start with Rich Williams and Paul Drinkwater confidently finding the boundary. However, as the ball became older and Malvern's bowling became tighter, through the introduction of Jez Lee, the Green's runs dried up. Williams (37) and Drinkwater (46) fell either side of the prize scalp of Flynn, who failed to score. Skipper Chris Smedley and Tim Clarke quickly followed, both to smart work from Arnold behind the stumps.

Throughout the mayhem of tumbling wickets Kevin Golder stood firm, striking boundaries to all parts of the ground, including one pulled six over long-on. Binks, Sanders, Hooper, Tim Williams and Harrison were all unable to find much form but did provide support to the in-form Golder, who finished on 65no. The Green closed on 187-9, a below par score but one which gave them hope of victory.

Needing early wickets, a fired-up Tim Williams and Chris Harrison charged in at the Malvern batsmen and were rewarded when Williams trapped Arnold and Cox leg before and Harrison clean bowled Baugh with the score on just 1-3. Francis and Dovey soon followed leg before to Harrison and Jez Lee was well caught at second slip by Rich Williams, to give Harrison his fourth wicket and leave Malvern in turmoil at 29-6.

Luke Halion then dug in and set about trying to rebuild the Malvern innings. However, Harrison (5-21) then trapped Carter leg before for his fifth wicket to leave the Green within touching distance of victory.

Anthony Arnold soon followed, again to another good slip catch from Rich Williams, off brother Tim's bowling. Halion's resistance was then broken when he was bowled by Williams (4-34) to leave Malvern 58-9.

The final pair managed to strike some boundaries as Smedley turned to spin as his seam pair tired. However, Flynn's flight enticed one big hit too many and Smedley took a comfortable catch to the joy of the on-looking Barnards Green crowd.

Malvern were bowled out for 87 to give the Green a 100-run victory and 24 points.

Thanks to match day sponsors Automated Packaging Systems.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Green travel to Bromyard for a top-of-the-table clash. The Green lie just six points behind Bromyard at the top of division two, a massive 60 points clear of Belbroughton in third place.

Malvern, meanwhile, entertain Belbroughton at Regency Road.