A TENSE finish saw Crewe CC end their losing streak last Saturday with their last wicket partnership surviving immense pressure to earn a draw at Longton.

Crewe made a great start to proceedings with pro Subbarto Banerjee removing Longton's skipper Nigel Davis with just the third ball of the match before Womble and Longmore led a recovery by smashing 71 in just 13 overs.

Banerjee made the breakthrough, dismissing Longmore but Womble rode his luck and went on to score an attractive 64 after being dropped and surviving a mysterious not out decision when appearing to be caught and bowled by Dawson.

Young spinner Martin Webb finally removed Womble and took a memorable wicket by clean bowling West Indian pro Nigel Francis.

Paul Milne took the fifth wicket, leaving Longton on 178 and Crewe's hopes were high of dismissing them for around the 200 mark. Richard Harvey shattered them with a splendid century and Longton eventually declared on a massive 266 for 7.

The giant Francis opened Longton's attack and his electric pace was too hot to handle for Crewe's top order. Roberts battled for a courageous 38 but the West Indian had Crewe reeling on 73 for 4.

With two more wickets for Francis, including the important one of Banerjee (16), and one from Harvey, Crewe were staring at certain defeat on 95 for 7 and 20 over still remaining.

Karl Stevenson (34) and Simon Walton (23) had other ideas though and stayed together for 16 overs with a priceless partnership of 59 before both departed within 3 balls. Last pair, Simon Fowles and Martin Webb came to the crease and try to survive the four remaining overs. They held their nerve against Francis's lightening deliveries and steered the side to a draw.

Longton's late decision to declare probably cost them dear but Crewe will be relived to have avoided another defeat. Crewe took seven points.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.