RAINHILL'S first home game of the season ended in a hard fought draw against Port Sunlight. The visitors won the toss and elected to bat on a slow wicket. Rainhill took an early initiative when Mattie Clifford caught the Sunlight opener off Nick Chapman to leave them 6-1. Wickets from Dave Birkett and Chapman to reduce the visitors to 18-3. But further success became difficult to achieve as Sunlight reached 78 before Peter Mercer gained a welcome wicket.

The introduction into the attack of Peter Swift proved decisive as he claimed three quick wickets to see the visitors faltering on 89-7. For the second successive week Rainhill found that shooting out the 'tail' was going to be costly as Sunlight reached 118 before Mercer claimed his second wicket. Wickets for Birkett and Mercer ended the innings with the visitors on 129.

Best for the Rainhill bowling were Peter Swift 3-10, Peter Mercer 3-22, Nick Chapman 2-31 and Dave Birkett 2-47. Mattie Clifford behind the stumps taking four catches.

In reply Rainhill made a positive reply moving to 36 before an interruption for rain interrupted progress. On the resumption Peter Woods fell lbw for 16 and it was left to Peter Mercer to carry the innings. All the other batsmen struggled but at 72-3 the match was very much in Rainhills favour. With overs running out, wickets began to fall and at 95-6 victory was proving a difficult target. Crucially Mercer was stumped for 59 (5x4, 1x6) on 108-7 with under three overs remaining and Rainhills chances had disappeared and they closed on 115-8.

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