MALVERN College's cricket season ended with a festival flourish.

This year Malvern were the hosts, entertaining Rugby, Charterhouse and a combined Irish side from Leinster.

Will Gifford, who must have a great cricket future, has dominated Malvern's batting. In the festival, he registered scores of 52, 158 and 84 and all this followed a week when he had innings of 67 and 109.

Relying on excellent timing and placing, he accumulates runs in a mature and polished manner, seldom lifting the ball but always keeping the run rate on the move.

Leinster batted first in the first festival match - declaring their innings on 256-8. In a second wicket partnership of quality, Gifford and Will Murtagh put the home team in a strong position, the latter scoring 50 and matching his captain stroke for stroke. When these two were separated wickets fell at regular intervals and a draw resulted with eight wickets down.

The following day, Murtagh and Gifford laid the foundations of a large score against Rugby. Gifford achieved the rare distinction of reaching his 100 before lunch. The innings closed on 246 and Rugby were bowled out for 99, the main damage being done by Faysal who had figures of 4-29.

In Malvern's final match against Charterhouse, a declaration was again possible on 259-9. This time Arun was Gifford's principal partner. He is one of Malvern's two representatives from the French U19 XI, the other being Charles Daffern.

Arun wound up his season on English territory with 4-41, but Charterhouse resisted doggedly for a final total of 129-8.

In the other matches, Leinster defeated Rugby and lost to Charterhouse. Charterhouse also beat Rugby to finish with the best record.