St Annes failed to capitalise on their chance to go joint second in the Northern Premier League with Darwen on Saturday at Vernon Road when they could not dismiss the last wicket pair and had to settle for a draw.
St Annes were put in andmade 248-4 in 50 overs but Darwen, without prolific professional Atif Ashraf who had broken a finger bowling, held on at 127-8.
Adrian Darlington made 51 for St Annes from 90 balls with seven fours and Ian Austin, 103 from 117 balls with 12 fours and three sixes, and Russ Bradley, an exciting quick-fire 70 not out from just 62 balls with one six and nine fours, one of which very nearly decapitated the bowler's end umpire, set up the St Annes total of 248-4.
Joe Davies started the Darwen collapse by having Chris Lowe caught at slip by Austin before he had scored and only a dogged 28 from 60 balls with six fours by Gary Jackson and late resistance from skipper Andrew Mercer, who survived 49 balls for seven not out, prevented a St Annes victory.
Michael Baer was the pick of the bowlers with 4-40 and Arshad Khan took 2-44. Newcomer Ben Dowling also got his debut wicket when he trapped Jordan Clarke leg before wicket for three.
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