WEST Malvern turned in the shock of the day at Knighton when they defeated the unbeaten WCL division five champions to progress to the semi-finals of the Saturday KO cup.

KNIGHTON ON TEME v WEST MALVERN

Division six side West Malvern gave another excellent team performance, enhanced by invaluable contributions from Colin Groves, Rowan Dakin, Pete O'Connell and Andy Key.

West Malvern were put in to bat on a damp wicket and Knighton's opening attack of Tom Whistance (40-3) and Dan Pullen soon had the visitors on the back foot.

The pacey Whistance accounted for Tony Williams (0), Shaily Badra (2) and Bill Wood (5), all bowled, while Pullen was rewarded when youthful newcomer Alex Billington was snapped up at point by N Dallow. At 22-4 in the tenth over, the outlook for the West was gloomy.

Colin Groves, however, showed great resilience and after opening with a six, became the mainstay of the West's innings. Kevin Gilbert (6) gave brief support but it was Rowan Dakin who helped boost the innings, he and Groves put on 36 in 12 overs before he fell to James for 22 at 75-6 with 16 overs left.

Pete O'Connell joined Groves and the pair put on 65 in 13 overs to quieten the home crowd. Groves eventually succumbed to Dallow after just passing the 50-mark. O'Connell was on 42no when the innings closed on 155-8.

A sharp shower at the start of the Knighton innings freshened up the wicket but also made fielding difficult.

An unplayable off-cutter from Munn accounted for Toms (11) and soon Grosvenor caught by Key. O'Connell finally had Evans caught for 17 and James joined Dallow with the score on 52 in the 14th over. This pair swung the game Knighton's way and added 68 in 12 overs.

Change bowler Dakin was the first to strike when he had James (32) caught by keeper Gilbert and then yorked new batsman T Batt for a duck. Key caught Dallow off his own bowling and the Knighton innings had deteriorated to 110-6 with 15 overs left.

The experienced J Griffiths and J Humphries then took charge and the score moved on again with 34 runs coming in the next six overs and suddenly Knighton only needed 12 runs with nine overs remaining.

Out of the blue, Key produced a peach of a ball to remove Humphries' (13) off stump and Griffiths (22) was caught by O'Connell off the same bowler at 147-7.

Whistance (1) was the ninth man to fall and although the last pair survived two overs, scoring two singles in the process, Pullen edged a ball to skipper Gilbert, who gleefullly took the catch to seal what was a remarkable victory for West Malvern. Key, playing for the first time in three years finished with 4-28 and Dakin 3-26.

Tomorrow (Saturday), a full-strength West Malvern visit Evesham in the cup semi-final hoping to make amends for their disappointing result there earlier in the season.