MALVERN are targeting a fourth win in five games tomorrow as they bid to strengthen their claim for promotion from Worcestershire Cricket League Division Three.

The Regency Road team have risen to third in the table following a purple patch of form and host Harborne thirds, who are 12 points better off, looking to leapfrog them into second. Captain Anthony Arnold hopes to have most of the seven players who missed last Saturday’s two-wicket victory at Avoncroft back for tomorrow’s pivotal encounter (1.30pm).

He said: “We have been on a decent run in the last four games and it’s gone pretty much as well as we could have expected.

“We had a winning draw at Alveley but the rest of those games we have managed to win.

“We have snuck up to third and are not too far behind Harborne.

“If we can give another good performance we can put ourselves in the promotion area with half the games gone.”

Malvern are enjoying a resurgence following three years in the doldrums and Arnold is pleasantly surprised by their progress.

“It wasn’t what I was expecting at the start of the season although I had hoped for it,” the skipper said.

“Over the previous few years we suffered two relegations on the trot and only just survived last year.

“We didn’t bat at all well last season. This year we have performed much better with the bat and that, combined with consistent bowling, means we have managed to put ourselves into a good position.

“This run has taken us from mid-table, where I was hoping to be at this stage, to being a bit higher.”

Arnold was full of praise for teenager Lewis Hill, who played a key role in helping Malvern to their 202 target against Avoncroft with 10 not out.

He added: “It was a nervous finish. We needed 25 and lost two wickets in two balls. Lewis faced the hat-trick ball and held his end excellently.

“I know a lot of teenagers who would have buckled under that pressure but he did very well.”