COLWYN Bay all-but secured their Liverpool and District Cricket League Premier Division status with a hard-fought draw at Highfield.

The Penrhyn Avenue side fell two wickets short of victory at the close of play and picked up nine points as a result of their efforts, which leaves them 40 points above the drop zone with three games remaining ahead of their trip to struggling New Brighton on Saturday.

Bay made a difficult opening to their time in the middle when Zack Gidlow and Will Higginson were ousted by Sam Rotherham on 15 and eight, but a strong partnership from George Johansen and Dineth Hewathanthree put them back in command.

The duo put on 122 for the third wicket until Hewathanthree was caught off an Oliver Jump delivery, and Johansen was also removed on the same score when he was trapped lbw by James Taylor.

Other double-figure scores of note came from Adam Campion (21) and Mike Littler (13*) as the away side declared on 226-7 from 47 overs at the crease.

Ryan Holtby put the new ball to extremely good use with the early wickets of Michael Gaskell and Owais Shah for a pair of ducks, before Campion got in on the act with the quick-fire scalps of Ryan Hargreaves (27), Tom Ashton (6), skipper James Taylor (10), Sohaib Shah (20), Jim Ashton (15) and Rob Halliwell (25) to end a mammoth 22 over spell with figures of 6-65.

This threatened to be the difference between the two sides, but a stubborn 28 not out from Robert Halliwell was enough to give the home side a share of the spoils as they ended on 152-8 from 52 overs.