WORCESTERSHIRE Cricket League Division Four leaders West Malvern bounced back from their first defeat of the season with an 87-run thrashing of Stourport thirds.

At Mathon Court in glorious conditions Matt Gammon won the toss and chose to bat on a pitch looking full of runs.

Phil Chaundy and new opening partner Will Jones looked untroubled despite the pace and movement generated by Lawrence Neill.

Jones, batting well forward of his crease to negate Neill’s swing, could not keep out a full ball and got bowled for five.

Matt Penkoks (4) was dropped at mid-on and caught off a no-ball before Neill rattled his off-stump.

Chaundy effortlessly hit boundaries until on 36 he chased a wide delivery from Matt Roberts and spooned an attempted shot through the covers to Neill to make it 61-3 from 16 overs.

Kuperan Yoganathan raced to 26 with boundaries through square leg and a straight six but as he attempted to sweep off his stumps he was rapped on the pads.

The score had rocketed to 100 off 20 overs but change bowlers Rob Pittaway (1-35) and Kevin Haycock (1-43) wrested back control.

Dominic Weston (4) could only guide a rising delivery from Pittaway to Phil Williams at short mid-wicket for four.

Robin Lloyd joined his son Will with the innings again in trouble on 113-5 at halfway.

Will Lloyd went to 50 with some trademark shots and the partnership blossomed in the heat.

But after hitting several sixes he missed and was bowled for 96.

Matt Hindmarsh (18 not out) shone and after Robin Lloyd (66) was lbw to Roberts (3-51) in the final over Sam Beaumont (7no) produced a straight drive for six.

The Wests had set a stiff target of 293-7 but Haycock and Mark Dearlove regularly found the boundary.

Hindmarsh struck when Dearlove (13) was caught by Chaundy.

Bradley Worton and Haycock made progress although Jones kept the scoring rate in check.

Beaumont proved difficult to get away and as the score passed three figures Weston (1-20) broke through by having Worton caught at cover by Hindmarsh for 39.

Haycock misjudged a full delivery and drove straight back to Penkoks for 64.

Big-hitting Alan Moss went for a duck gathered well by Robin Lloyd at long-off off Penkoks.

Skipper Williams spooned Penkoks’ next delivery over his shoulder to Hindmarsh for another duck.

Hindmarsh (2-53) returned to blast out Neill (23) and Peter Harrison (7) then attempted a quick single to Weston whose throw was smartly diverted onto the stumps by Penkoks.

George Teal looked to launch Penkoks (4-38) but only found the reliable hands of Will Lloyd.

Gammon (2-21) trapped Roberts lbw for three and confirmed victory and a 13-point lead at the top when Jack Delo nicked a wide delivery to Kevin Gilbert to end the Stourport innings on 206.