TENBURY WELLS skipper Zack Yarranton says defeat to title challengers West Malvern is ‘not the end of the world’.

Yarranton saw his side lose for only the second time this season in Division Five of the Worcestershire County League.

A middle-order collapse proved to be their undoing after it had looked as though they had done most of the hard work.

Having won the toss, Tenbury restricted West Malvern to 189 but ended up 10 runs short with more than six overs to spare.

The defeat sees their lead at the top cut to just eight points with two games remaining.

“It’s frustrating,” said Yarranton. “It was overcast in the morning and I thought the ball might do a bit.

“We didn’t get an LBW decision early on which seemed to set the tone and at drinks they looked like they might be on the verge of of giving us something big to chase.”

Aaron Morris was then introduced to the Tenbury attack and he grabbed the vital wicket of Phil Chaundy for 46.

Morris would go on to finish with 6-47 but Matt Penkoks with 29 at least gave the visitors something to defend.

“I was quite confident we could get them, Tenbury is a decent track,” Yarranton said.

“Aaron Morris (63) came in and got 50 off 32 balls and with Andy Adams with him it was looking good.”

Tenbury lost Adams with the score at 77 and then Morris followed but it was four wickets lost for just 16 runs after drinks which set them on the back foot.

Wicketkeeper Dave Hunt then came in to give them hope.

“Dave made a good 38 and I thought he was going to see us through but he got a leading edge and gave a return catch to Will Jones.”

It was though 6-40 from Rowan Dakin which proved the catalyst for the visitors gaining maximum points.

“It was the typical Tenbury collapse, we let ourselves down with the bat but I can’t really complain too much as it is only the second time we have lost this season.

“Maybe I got it wrong and should have batted as we’ve never been great chasing. Maybe it was scoreboard pressure but I felt we had done the hard work and most captains would take that.”

Tenbury will hope to get back to winning ways at Barnt Green 3rd while hoping West Malvern slip up against Old Elizabethans.

“Two wins should still be enough for us so it’s not the end of the world.”

It was also a disappointing afternoon for Tenbury 2nd who were dismissed for 133 at West Malvern on the way to a 10-wicket defeat.