CARNFORTH picked up a creditable winning draw against fourth-placed Netherfield with a good display at Lodge Quarry.


Netherfield started well as they quickly got batting numbers one, two and four out to leave the home side struggling at 19-3, South African pro Cobus Pienaar recording 2-17 from his opening spell.

But Carnforth pro Toby Bulcock (51) put on an excellent stand of 49 with Darren Moore and a 47-run partnership with Adam Hornby before he was dismissed LBW by Pienaar.


Hornby scored his 52 runs at an alarmingly high rate off 40 balls to put Carnforth in a commanding batting position.

Ricky Nelson added a commendable 32 before he was bowled by Netherfield skipper John Mason.

Carnforth were on 165-7 when their remaining wickets were taken with ease by Netherfield as they were bowled out for 188 in the 45th over.


That meant Netherfield had an extra five overs in reply, but opener John Mason succumbed to Adam Cowperthwaite for five in the seventh over.


Pienaar has been in poor form with the bat of late, scoring just 42 runs in the five league games before Saturday, and that run continued when he was caught by Moore off Darren Nelson for just one in the 12th over as Netherfield were 35-2.


John Huck (13) and Marc Brown put on 31 together before the former was caught by Hornby off Darren Nelson, the second of his four wickets on the day.

But problems really began when opener Marc Brown was out for 39, Jordan Relph catching in the covers with Bulcock bowling, to leave Netherfield in trouble on 86-5 in the 32nd over.


Chris Williams was out for 12, bringing Robbie Lambert to the crease with Netherfield on 89-6.

Lambert’s innings was proof of ‘Field trying to hold out for a draw, getting his first run when facing his 43rd ball and scoring 17 not out off 75 balls.


Marc Hadwin put on 27 not out as he struck a 44-run partnership with Lambert as the Cumbrian side ended on 150-7.


Carnforth’s inability to finish off the game meant they scored nine points instead of 15, while Netherfield picked up a five-point losing draw.


The Parkside Road outfit have a huge weekend as they entertain second-place Fleetwood on Saturday before they travel to the Lancashire side for Twenty20 Finals Day.