Poynton 176-9, Heaton Mersey 101-9 (Match drawn)

THE final Heaton Mersey wicket may have proved elusive, but Poynton were still satisfied with their first performance of the new season.

The only disappointing aspect of Poynton's day was their slide from 28 without loss after seven overs to 40 for four four overs later.

But the recovery started with David Watkins and Simon Dunn adding 48 in 11 overs for the fifth wicket, before Dunn added a further 57 with new director of cricket, Charlie Lamb.

Lamb's 46, with three sixes, was the highest innings of the day, but the best batting came from Dunn. The young wicketkeeper played some superb shots in his 41, providing some excellent entertainment in an otherwise dour affair.

From 161 for six, the innings subsided again to a certain degree, but the visitors were still confident they had posted an above par total on a difficult wicket.

Former Lancashire wicketkeeper Jamie Haynes and skipper Matt Norbury set about the Poynton attack as they scored 40 in the first seven overs of their second-wicket partnership.

But the introduction of Poynton's spinners applied the brakes and, once Watkins had removed both Norbury and Haynes in quick succession, Mersey never threatened victory.

After the fourth wicket pair took the score to 88, a collapse to 98 for nine followed as new Poynton captain Steve Mobley intelligently rotated his multitude of bowling options.

Derwin Thompson took the eighth and ninth wickets in successive balls in only his second over, before the last pair successfully negotiated the final seven overs. Watkins finished with 4-21 from 12 overs and Lamb with 3-30 from 14 overs.