CHESHIRE captain Andy Hall couldn't hide his disappointment as the weather prevented his side from forcing a memorable victory against Herefordshire in their Minor Counties Championship clash at Chester Boughton Hall.
Having struggled to make 158 all out in their first innings, Cheshire fired their way back into contention against last year's Western Division champions by dismissing them for just 83 in their first innings.
Herefordshire were 81-9 overnight before Simon Renshaw wrapped up the innings, leaving it to openers Danny Leech and Alexis Twigg to set the visitors a difficult target to chase.
But with Cheshire flying at 52-0, Twigg having crashed an unbeaten 43, the heavens opened and there was no further play on the final day of three.
'It's disappointing that we didn't get the chance to try and force a victory,' admitted Hall. 'We got the better of the weather against Cornwall when we got a draw, but we were on the receiving end this time.
'We fancied our chances of getting a win, especially after the way we bowled in our first innings, but that's just the way it goes sometimes.
'If we had won then it would have given us an ideal platform going into the last two games of the season, but it was pleasing that we still managed to maintain our unbeaten record.'
It was Jason Whittaker, the Oulton Park all-rounder, who was undoubtedly the man of the match, having finished with 7-31 with the ball and an unbeaten 49 with the bat.
Debutant Twigg also shone with the bat with scores of 40 and 43 not out, following his move from Cumberland.
Cheshire meet Wales MC next from Sunday to Tuesday at Abergavenny, followed by their last Championship match against Shropshire at Whitchurch, between August 17 and 19.
Cheshire 1st innings: 158 all out (J Whittaker 49 not out, A Twigg 40, M McCague 7-68).
Herefordshire 1st innings: 83 all out (J Whittaker 7-31, S Ren-shaw 3-49)
Cheshire 2nd innings: 52-0 (A Twigg 43 not out).
