WEST Malvern showed their resolve to fight back to beat Halesowen by 39 runs after a disappointing batting display in the Worcestershire League Division Four clash.

Put in on an innocuous looking pitch the top order failed to make the most of some fairly ordinary bowling and found themselves staring at an embarrassing defeat when reduced to 74 for 7 before drinks.

Robin Lloyd (3) was first to depart, chasing a wide delivery and edged Matt Slater to keeper Adam O’Grady. Slater repeated the feat - this time Phil Chaundy reached out to guide the ball to point for 13.

Will Lloyd was choked down the leg and when Joe Bird, after a trademark drive chopped on for 11 off Tony Bullock the Wests were in deep trouble.

Matt Penkoks and Dom Weston were also dismissed before Rowan Dakin fell first ball to Talha Iqhlaq’s loosener which turned from leg to hit the top of the off-stump.

Following the drinks interval Sam Beaumont and Kevin Gilbert dug in and put on 53 in the next 12 overs to give the score an air of respectability.

Beaumont (11) was stumped as he attempted to launch Carl Bust for a maximum and Gilbert perished shortly after slicing the ball to point for 35 as the need to accelerate increased.

Skipper Matthew Gammon was last man out, bowled in the 42nd over for six as Matt Hindmarsh remained unbeaten on 23.

The pair had added 27 valuable runs to give their side a fighting chance on 159.

West Malvern would need a good start if they were to get anything from the game.

Dakin rose to the challenge, dislodging John Aston’s off bail with his first ball. Dakin’s second victim soon followed when Slater pushed a full delivery to Will Lloyd at short cover.

Matthew Webb finally fell to a straight ball from Gammon for 16 and soon after O’Grady (3) drove Gammon to Lloyd.

Hard-hitting Jon Webb was looking like Halesowen’s match-winner, but Dakin got his revenge when Webb (38) failed to clear Gammon at extra cover.

Penkoks replaced Gammon (2-22) at the court end and soon squeezed through Iqhlaq’s (11) defence.

Bullock and Bust, two senior players and Halesowen’s final chance to steady the ship, discussed tactics and with plenty of overs in hand resolved to steer their side home without further loss.

But Bullock skied a drive off Dakin to Bird at gully. Bust then looked on as his own attempted cover-drive was caught low down by a diving Lloyd to give Dakin his fifth wicket.

Penkoks (2-11) trapped Greenaway in front to bring the Wests closer to an unlikely victory before Dakin reproduced his first ball of the innings giving Aaron Singh little chance to defend his stumps.