WEST TAKE MAXIMUM POINTS IN GRIM ENCOUNTERWest Malvern began their 2011 league campaign amid pastures new at Astwood Bank , Hancox the home captain electing to bat on a green-tinged wicket and outfield that promised much leg work and few boundaries, a surprise decision that the Wests captain O’Connell, resplendent in a new auburn beard, was happy with. Gammon was the pick of the Wests opening bowlers, providing copious amounts of swing in the chilly easterly gale, bowling Prescott and the aptly named Boycott in quick succession. The run rate and outfield was tortuously slow but the Wests fielders kept warm with enthusiastic fielding and, in the case of the young and promising J Blackburn, excellent catching. When his opportunity came to bowl he was soon rewarded with the...