CASTROL maintained their impressive run of form when they had the better of a draw on a difficult playing surface at Knutsford on Saturday.
Skipper Mark Evans said: 'It was an amazing game of cricket as nothing actually happened. It was the bowl-ers on top from the first ball. We had some inside information earlier suggesting that 150 would be enough not to lose. However, on my first inspection I thought no chance!
'But I was proved wrong and 146 was a very good score. Once again I'm pleased to say we didn't look like losing the game and there is an air of confidence flowing through the team at the moment that could see us through to a top-five finish.'
After electing to bat, Castrol lost Evans (5) early on after he was bowled by Barker (1-45), Flanagan (17) was removed next by Sheldon (3-35) and Garvey (8) was bowled by Cook (1-21).
The visitors were finding the boundaries difficult to come by until Green (38) and Hutchinson (43no) put points on the board for the Oilmen.
Green was eventually skittled by Sheldon and, as a result, the runs dried up on a pitch that was unforgiving. Garratt (5) was removed next, once again by Sheldon, and Hutchinson and Caulfield (10no) carried Castrol through to a total of 146 off 45 overs.
In reply, the hosts saw Storrow (11) removed early on after a wonderful one-handed catch by Benbow off Walters (1-10), Garvey (3-45) then bowled McCoy (8) and Hutchinson combined with Benbow and Garvey to run out Stone (0).
Flanagan (2-39) then ripped through Sheriden's defences by smashing his stumps for only two, Garvey claimed his second wicket when Peeks (32) was removed and Flanagan struck again to skittle Hammond (1).
Brewsher (29no) and Sheldon (10) took the attack to Castrol in their pursuit of bonus points. They managed to push the score up to 115 before Sheldon was bowled off the last ball by the impressive Garvey, giving the Oilmen a winning draw.
Knutsford claimed three points, Castrol 11.
