Colwyn Bay 2nds 261 for 6

Southport and Birkdale 235 for 9

Match drawn Colwyn Bay 9 points, Southport and Birkdale 8 points.

Bay appeared to have stopped the rot of only one of five close finishes having gone in their favour when, after being put in they had scored 261 for six declared in 55 overs and Southport were at 54 for five in reply.

The Bay's opening bowlers Glyn Gibbons three for 26 in 12 overs and Ed Williams Grey, two wickets for 76 in 11 had used the new ball to effect leaving the visitors reeling.

The Southport lower and middle order had not read the script and with some good batting Paul Coverley, 72, Keith Skelton 27, Neil Devlen 39 not out and L Boulton 33 fought back to put on 175 for three wickets and set the fans blood pressure soaring by going close with 227 for seven.

Mitch van Wyk had taken the sixth wicket and with runs in hand Bay persisted with spinner "Woody" Woodward who although taking some stick put Bay back into the game taking three wickets for 55 runs in 10 overs leaving the visitors on 233 for nine when Bay ran out of overs and luck - again - and it was a draw.

Bay's innings had been given a good send off by Rhoit Srinivasin 58 and Mal Gorton 60 putting on 104 for the first wicket and with Southport bowling a plenty of overs in the time to tea Bay's batsmen steadily went to 261 in 54 overs as Gibbons scored 44 and Mich van Wyk top scoring with 69 in a century partnership (104).

Colwyn Bay seconds are away to New Brighton this Saturday.