NEWLAND were frustrated by a dogged rear guard action by Cookhill in their Saturday Division Five encounter and had to settle for a winning draw.

NEWLAND v COOKHILL

Skipper Freeman lost the toss but was happy to be asked to make first use of a superb Newland batting strip. Openers Genever and Birch found the bowling to their liking and were quickly peppering the boundary boards, with Genever coming out of shell and stroking the ball to al parts.

With score on 70 Birch (17) fell to Eversham, first ball next over Genever also departed for 40. Freeman and Brewer had to rebuild the innings, this they did taking the score to 112 in the 20th over.

First ball after drinks Brewer succumbed for a fluent 30 another wicket soon fell as McCracken returned for a second spell. Freeman continued to place the ball in to the gaps whilst Tolley (16) backed up his skipper. McCracken was now bowling an excellent line and length with pace and was proving difficult to score off.

On Freeman's dismissal for an accomplished 42 the innings stuttered to 200, thanks in the main to a brisk 16 from Sully whilst all others perished to McCracken 6 for 51 off 18 overs.

The Cookhill reply was a turgid affair. Showing no sign of ambition they were content to let Newland bowl at them.

Despite taking a wicket in the second over it was to be another 20 before Newland gained their second success. The absence of any real penetrative bowlers the onus fell onto the shoulders of young Richard Leech.

With Bailey (2-25) removing A and R Smith it was hoped that the door was slightly ajar. It was not to be, doggedly J Smith defied all that was bowled at him.

Freeman turned to Brewer in the hope of buying a wicket, having bought one first ball he found himself being despatched to all parts as Hill was working to different script. Leech returned to dismiss Smith (43) but any hopes soon faded as Hill and Franklin ate up the over whilst taking advantage of all fielders being around the bat. Both batsmen suddenly had visions of victory and started to attack but both fell in the space of two balls. This left Newland with four overs in which to remove one of the last pair.

Wily campaigners Williams and Dunn were never going to give their wickets away and comfortably held out for the draw giving Newland the lesser victory of a winning draw.