RAINHILL collected a deserved draw at in-form Buckley.

They won the toss and asked the home side to bat.

On an afternoon of hot sunshine Rainhill toiled against positive batting, but a number of dropped catches did not help the cause. The only respite came when one of the opening batsmen retired hurt but Buckley amassed 200-0.

Rainhill made a steady start with 40 for the first wicket when Paul Ford (junior) fell for 22.

Peter Mercer was run out for 36 at 80 and Dominic Sparkes went for 22.

However, the best innings of the day came from David Bolton who had previously hit two successive 50s.

Batting with immense confidence and brilliant strokeplay, he hit 73 not out in only 62 balls.

But the other Rainhill batsmen could not provide the necessary support as they settled for a draw on 186-9.

In midweek Rainhill had a morale boosting victory in the Echo knockout against Wavertree.

Rainhill posted 121 for 4 in 20 overs with Wavertree being bowled out for 115.

The turning point was Paul Ford's (jnr) excellent three wickets in five balls in a spell of 3-13.

Rainhill seconds lost at home to Buckley.

The visitors bowled Rainhill out for 101 and knocked off the runs for the loss of only two wickets.

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