Colwall 289 all out, Malvern 222 all out.

MALVERN'S relegation from Worcestershire League Division One was confirmed with a 67-run derby defeat to rivals Colwall.

Malvern captain Antony Arnold won the toss and asked the home side to bat first.

During the first 10 overs of Colwall’s innings, Tom Coleman (45) and Nick Panniers (76) took the Malvern attack apart.

Malvern’s attack of Tom Poole, Rob Francis and the Dovey brothers, Jon and Paul, did not help themselves by bowling 19 wides.

Coleman’s innings took him over 700 runs for the season but he was unable to reach another 50 when caught and bowled by Jon Dovey.

Mike King followed him quickly back to the pavilion when given lbw to Rob Francis.

But then Panniers was joined by Ben Wheeler and they put on a quick-fire 71 for the third wicket before Wheeler was run out when on 50.

Pete Butler (30) and Tim Riley (26no) helped Colwall to keep the momentum up despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Andy Cullen provided Malvern with a bowler who gained some form of control and he finished with 3-40 off his nine overs.

Colwall finally finished their innings on 289 all out in the last over.

The visitors’ reply was soon in trouble when Adam Dovey fell lbw to Berry when the score was 24.

Jon Dovey and Poole took control and played some fine shots until the latter was unable to cope with spinner Mike King, who was introduced to the attack in the 13th over.

King then strangled the Malvern batsmen with accurate off-spin although Francis (61), with some attacking batting, put on another 80 for the third wicket with Jon Dovey (39).

With the score at 168, Berry returned to the attack and Dovey went for a shot too far and was well held by Kyron Burgess.

Wickets then fell regularly to King and leg spinner and Colwall man-of-the-match Coleman.

The latter made the ball turn and lift on a wicket which had the seam bowlers floundering during the day.

With only three overs left Burgess dismissed Arnold by clean bowling him and it was left to Mark Baugh and Chris Bridges to survive.

The drama unfolded as the Colwall fielders surrounded both batsmen in their vital target of 25 points to keep the threat of relegation away until the last game.

Bridges managed to survive Coleman’s spin but in the first ball of the 49th over, wicketkeeper Wheeler took an excellent catch from Burgess and the points were collected and Malvern’s relegation was sealed with the score at only 222.