MALMESBURY travelled to Bredon on a hot day and lost the toss. Opening bowlers James Crook and John Williams bowled tightly on a hard pitch with some pace and bounce.

Mark Lester bowled first change, and although all three seamers conceded some wides they also were hit or edged in the air several times, but the catches were spilled.

The spinners were introduced after 20 overs and Richard Gaunt had immediate success, inducing a skied sweep that Ian Gould caught. Another 12 overs and 30 runs passed before Mark Lester accepted a catch near the boundary at long on.

Bredon attempted to increase the tempo and Malmesbury dropped several more catches which enabled them to do so.

The best possible outcome would have meant Bredon were dismissed for about 160 runs in 45 overs, but the dropped catches enabled them to add over 100 runs in the last 15 overs to finish with 213 in 49 overs. The best figures were produced by Ed Shellard, whose four for 57 in 13.4 overs was augmented by a sharp run out when touching a hard straight drive.

The pitch was still good for batting but once again there was an air of uncertainty about the reply. Some players were not used to the extra pace and bounce of the pitch, while others seemed to be in a rush when four runs an over was all that was required.

The best stand came between Richard Gaunt (35) and James Pearce-Smith (22), but wickets fell too regularly either side of their stand of 54.

An injury to Ian Gould, who batted well once in, did not help. None of the other batsmen established themselves and the innings folded for 130, 84 short, in only 38 overs.

This Saturday Malmesbury are home to Swindon.