Cleveland 170 St. David's 151-4 Guest player Albert Steede hit a patient half century to guide St. David's through the first round of the Eastern Counties Cup at Lord's on Saturday.

At stumps, St. David's were 151-4, still 20 runs short of the victory target set by Cleveland, but as champions a draw was enough to see them through to the second round.

Western Stars opener Steede, who hit 59, was the only batsmen to top 30 in a low-scoring, rain-affected encounter played in front of a big crowd.

All 14 dismissals were catches on a slow wicket which lured many batsmen into going through with their shots too early.

Cleveland batted first and St. David's colt Angelo Cannonier, given the new ball, drew first blood when he took the prize wicket of Curtis Jackson, caught by Steede, for eight.

When Jason Simons followed him back to the pavilion, caught by St. David's skipper Clay Smith off Dale Fox, Cleveland were on the back foot at 22-2.

The arrival of heavy showers at 11.05 a.m. forced the players off. Just as play was about to resume, the rain returned. The game restarted after lunch, at 1.40 p.m. with the over limit having been reduced from 118 to 86.

Skipper Aaron Adams (18) and guest player Jermaine Postlethwaite (26) took the total to 63, before both were dismissed by Lionel Cann in quick succession.

Allan Douglas and Carlton Smith then came together and put on 40 in an entertaining fifth-wicket stand. Smith smashed three sixes in his 26 off 25 balls before another big hit was superbly caught by colt Landro Minors at long-on off Cann.

Cann, who took three for 24 in his 14 overs, tied the batsmen down with his accuracy and frustrated batsmen into surrendering their wickets with rash shots.

Sammy Robinson destroyed what was left of the Cleveland batting with a season's best haul of four for 34 from his eight overs.

Douglas, caught by Del Hollis for 22, was his first victim and Peter Philpott, who hit a full blooded straight drive only to see Allen Richardson take an excellent running catch in front of the sightscreen, was his second.

Toby Trott and Hasan Durham built patiently, but slowly, before Robinson dismissed both in successive balls to leave Cleveland on 140-9.

Trott was punished for his first rash shot, a lofted drive which fell well short of the long-on boundary and into the safe hands of Hollis.

The batsmen crossed and then Durham drove hard, but uppishly, into the off-side, giving Clay Smith at cover his third catch of the innings.

Number 11 bat Merkell Smith then entered the fray and brought the crowd to life with a carefree cameo of an innings, blazing 23 from just 18 balls.

The left-handed colt belied his lowly status in the batting order with some superb hitting. He hooked St. David's opening bowler Dale Fox for a stylish four and next ball went one better by clearing the ropes at square leg, not far short of putting the ball in the Atlantic.

But Fox had the last laugh, having Smith caught by Minors off the next ball.

Smith, 24, said: "In junior cricket, I was an opening batsman, so I was just playing each ball on its merits as usual. I had nothing to lose.'' That left St. David's with 46 overs to score 171 runs for victory and the task looked a straightforward one after Steede and youngster Chris Foggo got them off to a solid start.

The openers took the total to 70 before Foggo, who had struggled to find gaps in the field was caught by Jason Simons off John Richardson, soon after being dropped by Philpott off the same bowler.

St. David's needed to accelerate the run rate and teenager Oliver Pitcher did just that, smashing five fours in a fearless innings of 26.

Pitcher was caught at short leg by substitute fielder Jeremy Fray, off slow left-armer Philpott, who extracted more turn from the pitch than anyone.

Steede showed why he is top of the averages and warmed up for Cup Match with a steady 105-ball innings, which ended when he was caught at slip by Richardson off Philpott.

With seven wickets in hand, St. David's should have been able to knock off the 40 runs needed from the last eight overs, but they stalled and played safety-first. Entertainment value was clearly not the top priority particularly after Allen Richardson became another Philpott victim.

Lionel Cann and Landro Minors batted to the close with no apparent intention of forcing a win in what was an unsatisfactory end for the enthusiastic fans who deserved better.

Photos by Ras Mykkal Fired up: Cleveland colt Merkell Smith opened the bowling for his side against St.David's at Lord's on Saturday after making a quickfire 23, batting at number 11.

Taking a swipe: St.David's batsman Lionel Cann shapes to play a cut shot during his unbeaten 20 in the Eastern Counties Cup match at Lord's on Saturday.