DUNCAN Platford and Dave Bottoms rescued the Luctonians innings after a disastrous start to set up a three-wicket win over Malvern in a low-scoring game at Mortimer Park in Division 2 of the Crusader Worcestershire County League.

They were in all kinds of trouble at 22-5 chasing Malvern's modest total of 125, but a partnership of 86 put them within sight of victory.

When Malvern batted after winning the toss, Ollie Bendall (24) and M Ball (17) took the score to 41 after Dave Mumford (3-35) had taken an early wicket.

After they were parted spin twins James Sparey (4-36) and Ed Rollings (3-34) despatched the remainder of the visitors' batting, A Dovey (25) the only batsman to hold them up. They were all out in the final over.

Rob Francis (3-39) and Jimmy Lee (3-36) blew away the first five wickets before Platford (54) and Bottoms (41) turned the innings around. Paul Davies (11) and Rollings steered Luctonians home to their second league win in the 44th over.

Monmouth were another side to toast their second win of the campaign, and again it was a spinner who played the major role. Mark Temple, their South African left-armer took 7-30 to bowl home team Coombs Wood out for 150, a target Monmouth comfortably passed for the loss of three wickets.

Their was little hint of a collapse in the home team's innings as they progressed to 78-2 in 19 overs.

The rest of the batting was mesmerised by Temple, who tempted four of his victims down the pitch, allowing Dan Head to complete four stumpings. With more good catches in the outfield the innings came to a close in the 44th over.

Wayne Etheridge (32) and Ian Morgan (19) put Monmouth on the road to victory with an opening partnership of 66 in 18 overs. They wobbled for a while, falling to 75-3, before David Teague (56 not out, 10 fours and a six) and Head (22 not out) came together to complete the win in the 38th over.

Visiting Belbroughton scored 156 runs in the final 20 overs of their innings at Kennel Field. They finished on 264-8 and put the match well beyond the reach of Wormelow, who batted out for a draw on 176-6.

The first 30 overs of the visitors' innings were well contested, the score being 108-2 with the second wicket going down during the over to Ben Owens. This signalled a surge in the scoring as G Day (47) and J Warburton (58) compiled their runs at better than a run a ball.

Wickets tumbled after their dismissals but the runs still flowed as Palmer battered 24 off 14 balls. Steve Wild and Shaun Waldron each picked up two wickets.

Ben Owens (38) and Matthew Evans (35) scored 68 for the first wicket but took 23 overs against an accurate attack. Tim Boulter scored 44 as Wormelow batted out time, finishing short of the target for points for a losing draw.