A DISASTROUS battling display saw promotion-chasing West Malvern suffer a shock defeat to Halesowen thirds in Worcestershire League Division Four.

Rowan Dakin and Sam Beaumont both took four wickets to put West in control as they bowled the hosts out for 106.

But the away side were skittled for 78, with only Will Lloyd and Kuperan Yoganathan reaching double figures.

It was a tough loss for West who slipped two places to fourth, allowing Bromsgrove to pull clear at the top.

An unfamiliar 11 took to the field at Earls High School after stand-in skipper Matt Penkoks won the toss.

Openers Jon Webb and Raqeeb Khan survived the first two overs from Matt Hindmarsh and Dakin but then the fireworks started.

Webb was caught by Robin Lloyd off Hindmarsh and Khan soon followed, bowled by Dakin.

Shaz Gill was undone by a delivery that cut back sharply off the pitch before Dakin picked up his third wicket trapping Luke Miley lbw.

Beaumont got the wicket of Matt Webb (10), caught by Ben Tanner, to leave Halesowen in dire straits at 50-5.

Dakin (4-18) struck again bowling Archie Reeves and his replacement Tanner induced Alex Farrah (7) to edge to keeper Fergus Neve with his first delivery.

Adam O’Grady and Chris Jones tried to provide much-needed solidity for Halesowen and took the score onto 92.

But Beaumont trapped O’Grady lbw and in the same over Alex Jordan had his stumps splayed.

Jones threw caution to the wind, but finished on 24 when Beaumont (4-37) rattled the timbers dismissing last man Alex Bullingham for a duck.

Chasing 107, West had high hopes of completing a comfortable win, but Jordan and Jones had other ideas.

Matt Blatherwick-Hindmarsh (1) slapped Jones to Bullingham and then Neve (6) was bowled.

Will and Robin Lloyd looked to be going well.

But with the score on 42, Will Lloyd (28) was dismissed by Jones. Robin Lloyd then lost patience and his wicket pulling Jones to Bullingham.

After Dom Weston went for a duck, Penkoks strode to the middle with the score on 43-5.

He was dropped twice, but then fell lbw to Jones.

Yoganathan gave the visitors some hope along with Tanner, but they were both removed in consecutive overs.

Beaumont was next to fall before Miley (2-19) finished things off as Hindmarsh’s slip-drive found Gill.

Tomorrow (1pm), West visit Hanley Castle and Upton who leapfrogged their rivals into third spot after beating Alveley by one wicket.