TENBURY skipper Zack Yarranton explained that a call from an old school-friend helped stave off an embarrassing final game defeat.

The captain was down to the bare bones for the match with West Malvern in Division Four of the Worcestershire League with a group of first-team regulars away on a stag weekend.

Postie Darren Thompson arrived straight from his morning round and another lad managed to get to the ground just in time after heading back from Liverpool.

But it was the call from Alex Mason that proved key to Tenbury securing a winning draw to finish the season in third as his old school-friend smashed 101 on his season’s debut!

“Alex had phoned up to say he was back from London and to see if I wanted a round of golf,” the Tenbury skipper explained. “I said I’d rather he had a game of cricket and we’d talk about the golf on another day.

“He now plays for Wimbledon but used to play to Tenbury and was with the Worcestershire Academy – so he’s a good friend to have!”

Kier Sellars also hit a lively 73 while Thompson, Matt Jones and Tom Mason added some useful runs to take the Tenbury total to 299-8 from their 50 overs.

In reply, the visitors looked to be on target thanks to a useful 90 from Will Lloyd. But his dismissal saw the challenge dissolve and by the close West Malvern were happy to hold on for a losing draw, finishing their innings on 277-8.