NEWLAND enjoyed a winning draw against Stone on Saturday in this WCL Division Five encounter when a weakened side was unable to winkle out a dogged Stone rear guard whilst Jason Brewer had earlier registered a sparkling century.

NEWLAND v STONE

The home side were asked to have first knock on a track freshened up by a midday hailstorm and the in form Genever was quickly into his stride until he was well caught for 21. Brewer was beginning to get on top whilst Freeman (12) was content to play a supporting role.

Brewer had an extraordinary escape when a skied top edge was just watched by wicket keeper and bowler and Stone were to pay dearly for this error as he now peppered the boundary.

Birch hit a brisk 18 and a good score was now on the cards for Newland. White and Brewer had quick fire 50 run partnership as Brewer was now punishing everything, five towering sixes and 11 crashing fours saw him through to 102 but the return of Durnall (4-55) was to be his undoing. White cracked a rapid 37 and with the tail wagging Newland set a challenging 245 for victory.

Stone did not get the best of starts when skipper Tolley took a brilliant gully catch and Freeman also took a superb diving catch at mid-wicket to dismiss the dangerous Bryant for 21. Ferguson (33) and Backledge (42) had taken the score to 90 before Riaz struck again.

Stone now went into their shell content to play out the overs, but with the field in their tactics changed. The catching remained tremendous as Stevens and Fredericks produced great ones to leave Stone wobbling at 139-6.

Although Newland took two more wickets in a sustained 23 over spell from Jabbar Riaz (4-69) they were unable to force victory and had to settle for a winning draw as Stone closed on 175-8.