Flatts 144-8 Despite failing to pull off the expected victory, champions Bailey's Bay still qualified for a place in the second round of the Eastern Counties Cup after drawing with Flatts at Sea Breeze Oval in the first round on Saturday.

A year after losing to Bay by nine wickets, Flatts had the satisfaction this time of holding on for a draw -- a result that might have made them proud but did little else for the competition other than cause many to wonder whether officials would be wise to consider switching to limited overs.

The champions, who won the toss and batted, had to be faulted for the obvious result after staying at the crease until 4.20 p.m., leaving their opponents with the almost hopeless task of reaching a winning target of 269 with just 55 minutes and 20 overs remaining.

Pulling off such an unlikely feat became even more unlikely when Flatts were forced to bat with their two all-rounders -- guest players Vivian Simons and Dwayne Leverock -- both limping badly from injuries sustained while fielding.

Both required a runner.

However, Bay still came close to dismissing the challengers, though Flatts helped to contribute to their own downfall early on when three of their first four batsmen all skied catches while attempting hook shots to square leg.

With Millard Bean (13), Rodney Woolridge (4) and Derek Wright (23) going in this fashion and skipper Troy Dean (16) following shortly afterwards any hopes Flatts had of getting even close to the Bay total quickly fizzled.

But with Brandon Woolridge contributing 32, Leverock 23 and Braxton Stowe 15, they were able to survive and earn a respectable although somewhat meaningless draw.

Veteran Noel Gibbons returned two for 15 off six overs and Dennis Pilgrim two for 29 off nine overs.

Bailey's Bay's batsmen eventually displayed their hunger for runs after being forced into a subdued mode early on when opener Cal Dill was dismissed by the seventh ball of the game for a duck, caught by Wright off colt Gordon Hollis with just eight runs scored. It was Hollis' first delivery in the competition.

When Charlie Marshall was run out for four eight runs later the champions were struggling, but stability came when skipper Chris Smith (64) and Ricky Hill (57) added 85 for the third wicket. Hill struck nine fours after facing 92 balls, but his most important run was a single which took him to six and gave him 1,000 runs in the competition behind Noel Gibbons, Allen Richardson and Charlie Marshall.

Although Hill was out with the score on 101 and Glenn Smith (8) was to follow 15 runs later, Bay got another productive partnership when the skipper and Noel Gibbons put on 57 for the fifth wicket with the latter scoring 44.

Skipper Smith was run out with the total on 173 and Gibbons was bowled by Leverock with the score on 191. Smith hit nine fours off 97 balls and Gibbons struck seven fours off 46 balls.

Spinner Leverock was well used by Flatts, bowling 15 consecutive overs during his first spell and returning for 12 more to finish with four for 96.