Wellow & Plaitford (111 all out) tied with Nomansland (111 all out)

VISITORS Nomansland elected to bat on a track that looked helpful to the bowlers.

Skipper Darren Grayer and Gary Loveless opened, but Jonty Page cleaned up Grayer without scoring with a superb inswinging delivery. Richard White and Loveless looked to push the scoring along but were pegged back by Jon Colyer, who completed nine overs for just nine runs.

Loveless rode his luck for 34, while Page bowled White for 10.

Simon Smith and Loveless then put together a stand of 61. But the introduction of seasoned campaigner Mark Page (3 for 13 from 6) proved the catalyst as he removed Smith (26), Jason Franks (0) and T Harrison (0).

Mark Weaver tempted Loveless into a lofted drive that was safely pouched by Matt Campbell, and he finished with 3 for 18. Jed Coombes completed the coup de grace, closing the innings on 'Nelson'.

Wellow's reply could not have got off to a more dramatic start as Nomads came flying out the blocks knowing that early breakthroughs were their only hope.

And they got them as Wayne Lockey was caught at cover with just four on the board. Weaver played a couple of blistering drives before he perished in a similar manner.

Wellow were struggling to time the ball, and the dismissal of Dean Godden left them reeling on 15 for 3. Lee Palmer, playing his first match against his former club, and skipper Scott Trutwein attemped to rebuild the innings after the opening blast from Jason Franks and Peter Loader.

They looked to just take the singles and punish the bad ball until Palmer was bowled going for a big hit off a 'nip-backer'. Jon Colyer and Trutwein then put on a stand of 30. The skipper reached 24 before being caught and bowled off a horrendous shot to leave the score 63 for 6.

Colyer went on to play a mature innings that belied his relative youth. He watched in horror as batsmen came and went, but a vital cameo from Chas Vince kept the home side in the game.

With one wicket required and 12 runs needed to win, Colyer and Coombes managed to eke out the runs.

The match did not deserve a winner, and when Coombes (3) was caught to end the innings on 111 a share of the spoils with 14 points apiece was the right result.