GRATEFUL Knypersley clung on for a draw against bottom of the table Stone on Saturday after dropping a string of catches.

Stone were in trouble at 53 for five, but took advantage of poor fielding from the home side to grind out a respectable total of 156 for nine.

Knypersley needed 106 to win from their last 20 overs after reaching 51 for four, but crashed to 103 for nine with four overs left.

They decided to dig in, and the last pair held on to end with 108 for nine and six points to eight for Stone.

Stone were almost immediately in trouble, losing their first two men with the score on 25.

They lost another three batsmen at 53, two falling to Rob James.

However four or five dropped catches inspired the away side, who recovered to 96 for six and 156 for nine, declaring with one ball left.

Andy Farr was Knypersley's top wicket taker, claiming four for 53, ahead of two for 26 for James and two for 47 from Mark Tournier.

Knypersley made a terrible start, losing their first wicket with one run on the board.

They progressed to 51 for four, but lost their sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth men at 89, 94, 99 and 103 to leave them needing 54 runs in the last 24 balls.

Chris Barry and Paul Bates were joint top scorers with 22, ahead of 20 from James.

Knypersley's Staffs Cup quarter final on Sunday was wrecked by torrential storms which hit the Midlands.

Home side Wolverhampton had made 11 runs from the first four overs when the heavens opened, and the match was abandoned 90 minutes later.

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