IN-SPITE of dominating the game from start to finish, in the end Cleobury had to settle for a winning draw in their home fixture with The Vine in Division Six of the Crusader Worcestershire County League. The visitor's last-wicket pair batted out the final five overs to defy the home team.

After losing both the toss and an early wicket, the runs were soon flowing for Cleobury. Captain, Ollie Rowland, firstly in conjunction with Andy Smith (43), and then Ben Griffiths (48) featured in stands of 73 and 92 for the second and third wickets, leaving the home side well-placed at 181-3.

No respite

Rowland was finally out for a well-struck 79 but there was no respite for the flagging Vine bowlers as Steve Morris helped himself to 41 to leave the final total on 268-8 after 45-overs.

The Vine reply was always struggling against the miserly bowling of Nigel Williams and the probing attack of Darren Taylor. Taylor finished with 4-20 from his 12-over stint to mark the debut of his new hair-piece.

John Griffiths (2-41) and Nick Griffiths (2-32) provided the pair with splendid support to ensure that there was a regular fall of wickets, but in the end it was all in vain as the visitors finished 118 runs short of the target but with that vital wicket in hand. This week Cleobury visit Stourbridge Social in the league.