DRAW specialists Elworth came within two runs of victory after a frantic run chase at London Road on Saturday.

In a rain-reduced fixture, Elworth restricted visitors Norton to 154-8 from 47 overs but saw their reply end agonisingly close to victory at 153-6 off 39 overs.

After a delay of 90 minutes, Elworth captain Dave Palin put Norton in to bat but captain Greg Willott led by example as the visitors made a good fist of difficult conditions.

Staffordshire all-rounder Willott made 45 and found solid support from professional Imran Adil (33).

Jim Higgins was Elworth's top wicket taker with his spin yielding 3-49, while professional Ian Mitchell took 2-40.

Palin persevered with his regular batting order for the chase, which saw Elworth needing to score at 3.97 runs an over.

Elworth were restricted to 31 following the first 15 overs as Adil repeatedly went past the outside edge.

Fourteen-year-old Russell Ballard batted courageously and Mitchell added impetus with four quick boundaries, before being bowled just as he was finding his rhythm.

A quickfire 32 from Rob Beech and a cameo 15 from Higgins put Elworth back on track before Ballard was run out attempting a quick single for a spirited 47.

Needing three for victory off the final ball, Robinson was unable to pierce the field and had to settle for a single, giving Elworth their 11th league draw of the season.

Crewe lost at Leycett in a match reduced to 58 overs due to rain.

Play started at 4.30pm and after Crewe lost a crucial toss, they were put in to bat on a soft wicket with heavy overcast skies.

They recovered from 28-4 to 80-5, largely due to an excellent innings of 36 from Tom Gower.

The loss of three more quick wickets swung the game back in Leycett's favour and although Jo Boyle made a fighting 14no, Crewe closed their innings on 102-8.

Leycett professional Kamran Younis survived a confident appeal early in his innings and went on to post an important 40.

But his dismissal led to a collapse thanks to some excellent bowling from Nick Lange and Matt Dawson, and fine fielding which saw Aamer Iqbal take three good catches and Nick Bentley effect a stunning run out with a direct throw.

This reduced Leycett to 63-8 and put Crewe in a match-winning position, only for Mohammed Ali (29no) and Dave Moreton (15no) share a match-winning ninth-wicket stand to secure victory in the 25th over.

Lange finished with 4-69 and Matt Dawson with 3-34 as Crewe collected six points to their hosts' 20.

Haslington fell to a seven-wicket home defeat at the hands of Hem Heath after only two of their batsmen managed double-figure scores.

A fine innings of 83 from Richard Pickford held the innings together as he saw his partners come and go, including a rare failure from Andre Percival.

A stand of 49 with Chris Henderson for the fifth wicket gave Haslington hope, but when Henderson departed for 17, Heath took control. Steve Atkinson finally had Pickford caught by Sean Bowers the ball after he had picked up the wicket of Andy Hayes.

Atkinson then trapped Matt Saive in front of his stumps to complete his hat-trick and when Darren Sanders clean bowled Richard Brown, Haslington were left with the modest total of 135 to defend.

Atkinson finished with 4-35 and Darren Sanders with 3-24.

Heath opener Brian Sims guided his side to victory with an unbeaten 52 and with Dean Hodson adding 33no, the visitors reached 137-3 inside 36 overs with Percival picking up all three wickets to fall.

Betley's match at home to Moddershall was washed out.