Market Drayton lost the toss and were put in to bat in their Shropshire Cricket League Division 1 home match against Pontesbury.
Drayton’s in-form openers, John Upton and Paul Martin, got the side off to a solid start and punished the occasional bad ball from Pontesbury’s attack.
They also increased the pressure on the visitors with regular singles in a game neither side could afford to lose.
Drayton reached drinks on 70-0, with both Upton and Martin well set after some early scares in a match reduced to 45 overs a side.
Soon after drinks, Upton was quick to punish some short Pontesbury bowling with two pulled boundaries before Martin was dismissed for an important 30 by the second change bowler.
Upton, however, brought up his first half century of the season in style as wickets began to fall around him.
When Upton himself was dismissed by a diving catch at long on for 67, Drayton were 110-4 and Pontesbury were fighting their way back into the game.
However, useful contributions right down the order, including 12 not out from Steve Wild and 10 off three balls by Matt Heffernan, took Drayton to a respectable 179-8 at the end of their innings.
When Pontesbury came out to bat, Sam Allen was quick to make the breakthrough for Drayton with the third over bringing two wickets.
When Jesse Thompstone took his first wicket, along with a third from Allen, Pontesbury had slumped to 40-4.
From here on, they never looked like chasing down the Drayton total and despite a wicket apiece for skipper Richard Davies and Heffernan, Drayton were unable to bowl out the opposition.
At this stage Pontesbury were on 100-6 after 35 giving Drayton 10 overs to find four wickets.
With the opening pair of Allen and Thompstone back on, Drayton sensed a chance of victory but could only get one more breakthrough.
It was Allen who took the final wicket as he finished with four wickets as Pontesbury closed on 132-7 after 45 overs.
Drayton take 15 points from the winning draw after a strong performance from the team. The squad are improving week by week in this division.
This Saturday, Market Drayton are away at Ellesmere.
