STRETTON Cricket Club drew a nail-biting game against Old Parkonians on Saturday.

The home team batted first and were dismissed for 141.

Mark Critchley was the star bowler with figures of 6 for 12 and he was well supported by his son Steve, who took 3 for 34.

In response, Stretton fell agonisingly short as they were dismissed for 139.

Adam Garrod continued his good start to the season by hitting 34 and the flamboyant Ehsan Malik scored the same, throwing in a switch hit and a reverse sweep for good measure.

Youngsters Pete Talbot and Pat Flanagan deserve credit for a 20-run last wicket partnership that almost took Stretton to victory.

The second XI took the reverse journey to Old Parkonians in Birkenhead.

Batting first, they got off to a great start, with Andy Delaney, 27, and Ben Southworth, 20, putting on 50 for the opening wicket before a contentious umpiring decision sparked a calamitous collapse.

The visitors struggled to 64 for 6 before finishing on 113 for 9 as youngster Danny Mullins marshalled the tail through the final few overs.

This was never enough and the hosts knocked off the score for the loss of only three wickets – Mullins got two of them.