Cleveland skipper Dennis Musson Jnr praised his side's 'battling spirit' as they survived a Flatts Victoria fightback to retain their Eastern Counties trophy on Saturday, writes Josh Ball.

The holders held out for the final hour of the match, eventually finishing on 185 for eight, still 16 runs short of the 201 they needed for outright victory.

Still, a draw was enough to see them retain the cup, and Musson said his team were looking forward to defending the trophy against Bailey's Bay in two weeks time.

"Hats off to my guys, we gutted it out till the end," said Musson. "We're excited (about being holders), this is the first time in 30 years that we have had the cup and it's good to defend it, and now we are going to get ready for Bay."

That Flatts made 200 was down to the batting of guest player Dwayne Leverock, who scored 43, and helped the challengers recover from the precarious position of –50 for five after Damali Bell had ripped through the top order.

"They brought themselves back into the game," said Musson. "The wicket started playing better for the batsmen, but our bowlers kept their line and we bowled them out for a pretty good total. Hats off to Damali Bell who took four wivckets, that put them on the back foot."

Having rescued Flatts with the bat, Leverock then set about trying to win the game with the ball, but with Cleveland 140 for five, he seemed destined to finish on the losing side.

His beguiling spin though did tie the holders in knots long enough to force them to bat out for a draw.

"We had a little struggle getting there," admitted Musson. "Leverock bowled pretty well, you know, but pretty much he was the only one who bowled well for them. But hats off to my guys, we gutted it out till the end."

The shortened competition will be completed in two weeks time when Cleveland face Bay at Sea Breeze Oval, and the holders will arrive having yet to win a game. Musson though said anyone who doubted their right to be called holders should forget such thoughts.

"You can only beat who shows up to play," he said. "Anyone who says this season doesn't count (because St David's pulled out), they should forget that."