A PLUCKY tenth-wicket stand from Netherfield’s Nathan Chambers and Brad Airey stopped Darwen from taking maximum points and forced them to settle for a winning draw at Parkside Road.

Darwen set an imposing 308-4 off their allotted overs, helped by centuries from South African professional George Linde and Chris Clarke, but failed to take advantage as Netherfield’s tail end stood firm to frustrate the Lancashire club’s bowling attack.

Netherfield started well as Sri Lankan professional Saliya Saman took two early wickets with both Ammer Mirza (6) and Scott Jackson (0) back in the pavilion by the seventh over.

However Darwen ceased control of the innings with a third wicket stand of 142 between Linde and Clarke.

Linde, playing his final game of the season, hit 112 off 98 balls including 10 fours and seven sixes, while Clarke posted an unbeaten 105 off 112 balls.

Airey finally broke the partnership in the 31st over as Linde’s boundary attempt was caught by Chambers with Darwen standing on 166-3.

John Cordingley came to the crease and hit 35 as Darwen moved towards an impressive total before he was caught behind by John Huck in the 43rd.

Captain Jordan Clarke smashed 39 off 21, with Chris Clarke for company, as Darwen closed their innings.

Netherfield’s reply got off to a better start than the visitors as they raced to 54 with both Ben Philips and Marc Brown at the crease.

However the momentum swung back in the visitors favour when Philips was run out for 29 by Scott Jackson in the 15th over.

Saman then went for 20 after being bowled by Chris Wade and the situation got worse for Netherfield as John Huck went for 2 after being caught by Wade off the bowling of Linde.

Netherfield went from a comfortable 54-1 to 86-3 and were pushed on to 129 by Tom Williamson who made 17 before he was trapped lbw by Linde.

A flurry of wickets followed in the next ten overs as Joe Atkinson, Brad Earl, Matthew Goodall and Mark Clarkson were all dismissed for single figure scores leaving Netherfield on the brink at 155-8.

But skipper Marc Brown had other ideas and batted supremely throughout his 107 ball innings.

Brown, who spent nearly three hours at the crease, hit his first century of the season before finally being dismissed by Linde, who returned figures of 5-30, in the 47th over leaving just one wicket standing in the way of a Darwen victory.

Resilient Chambers and Airey faced 19 balls together and were not for moving as the pressure ramped up - but both survived as Netherfield took four points with Darwen taking 10.