ST ANNES 230-7 NETHERFIELD 208-9 St Annes nearly inflicted a first Bay 96.9 Northern Premier League defeat on Netherfield in an exciting game at home on Saturday.

Having made 230-7 in their 60 overs and St Annes looked set for victory after a clatter of middle order Netherfield wickets but in the end had to settle for a draw.

St Annes' openers Adrian Darlington and Gareth Evans only put on 12 before Darlington, having already being dropped twice, was caught in the gully of Scott Clement for seven.

Dave Callaghan had a torrid time against some splendid bowling from Clement and Dave Wheatman.

At the other end Evans, 44, batted beautifully and by the time he and an improving Callaghan had added 63 he had struck nine fours from 81 balls before he lofted a catch to Clement at mid-off.

Stephen Twist only lasted a short time and had made four when he was caught behind off Vaughan. Skipper Russ Bradley and Callaghan then took control both playing delightful shots. When Bradley had made 29 he was caught at third man by Hadwin off a thick outside edge.

Callaghan had made 73 when he was dropped at mid-wicket but he profited by only nine runs for he was bowled by Little. Duncan Whalley made 18 before he was LBW to Hadwin and then St Annes made hard work of the tail end of the innings.

Adam Cotton made a quick 20 before he was run out and at the close of the innings Neil Bradley was left not out 18 and Joe Davies not out one with St Annes on 230-7.

Netherfield in reply lost three early wickets to Callaghan; he bowled Tommy Prime for seven, had Vaughan LBW second ball for four, and then had free scoring Craig Walmsley splendidly caught by a tumbling Gareth Evans at long off for 19. Simon Dutton and Moyes then added 63 runs before the latter was bowled by Darlington for 29.

The big hitting Clarke came in with Netherfield requiring 115 off the final 20 overs. He struck a couple of lusty blows before not quite middling a ball from Dave Taylor and John Cotton agilely took a catch low down on the long on boundary leaving Netherfield on 130-5. Simon Little and Dutton did not give up the chase and put on 68 in quick time and scented victory.

But Callaghan returned and Darlington, after having missed Little when the batsman had made 23, clung on to a catch at long off when he made 30.

That was 198-6 and it was 202-7 when Dutton, 87 from 117 balls with nine fours and one six, was run out going for a quick single.

Twist bowled Wheatman for three at 208-9 and there was little option for Netherfield but to play out for a draw. They duly did so, earning themselves just four points, sufficient to keep them at the top of the table.

Dave Callaghan took 5-76 as St Annes took nine points from the game.