CREWE collected a useful seven points from their rain-ruined draw at Cheadle on Saturday.

After a delayed start, new professional Aamir Iqbal finally made his debut after jetting in from Pakistan the previous day, and he made an instant impression by scoring an attractive 67 in his side's total of 179-7 declared.

In miserable conditions, openers Mark Hurst and Nick Bentley put on 28 but when Neil Webb went for 14, Crewe looked up against it at 59-3.

But a fine partnership of 88 between Iqbal and M Amin put Crewe back on track.

Iqbal hit nine fours in his half-century while Amin finished unbeaten on 40. Nick Lange made a useful 17 before the declaration after Crewe had gained the maximum five batting points.

Cheadle showed little interest in chasing victory and despite good bowling from Shahid Khan (3-23) and Lange (2-16), they crawled to 80-5 before rain and bad light caused an early closure.

Elworth picked up four points from their home draw with Hem Heath after rain wiped out almost two hours of play.

Captain Dave Palin put the visitors into bat and his decision brought immediate dividends with opening bowlers Paul Crompton (3-36) and Matt Buckley (1-13) striking in their first overs to leave Heath on 1-2! Crompton's swing also accounted for Heath professional Fida Hussain who was trapped lbw for seven.

The introduction of professional Ian Mitchell and experienced spinner Jim Higgins put the brakes on the scoring rate with just 29 runs conceded from their first 20 overs, and with Higgins taking 4-22 and Mitchell 1-18, Elworth scented the chance of victory with Heath pegged back on 49-7.

Unfortunately for Elworth, the visitors' tail wagged after the tea interval and Heath finished on 99-9 from their 46 overs.

Elworth's victory target of 100 in 39 overs looked obtainable but fading light and steady drizzle made the task harder.

Openers Mike Robinson (30) and Peter Davies (13) took them to 51-2 off 25 overs but Hussain's spell of 4-21 off 13 overs halted Elworth's victory charge and they were left to settle for a draw on 69-7.

Haslington's hopes of a win at Norton were also dimmed by bad light.

Professional Andre Percival took 3-48 as Haslington reduced Norton to 180-7 declared, but the gathering gloom brought an end to the reply with Haslington on 81-4, leaving them having to settle for four points to Norton's seven.

Not a ball was bowled at Betley as their ECB Premier Division match with Longton was abandoned.

Second-team scores - Premier Division: Longton 179-3 dec, Betley 105-5 (A Rauf 34no). Division One: Hem Heath 100-6 (G Statham 4-10), Elworth 176-2 (R Kesteven 78, R Ballard 45). Matches abandoned - Crewe v Cheadle, Haslington v Norton.