AN understrength Inverclyde put in a good performance to comfortably secure a draw away from home against a strong Stenhousemuir side - but the visitors were disappointed at missing out on victory with an unsuccessful run chase.

With Inverclyde held up with busy roads en-route, it was a surprise that the locals enforced the toss and elected to bat.

However, Inverclyde’s Tom Watson and Matt Walton bowled well in their opening spells, restricting runs, and Walton gained the breakthrough with two wickets in the 10th over, trapping both Iftikar and Lai leg before at 20 for two.

Quinn increased the run rate but was caught down leg side by wicketkeeper Douglas Pilkington off Ally Haw’s slow ball, who then had Moses well held low down by Watson at cover, at 75 for four in the 23rd over.

Haw’s third wicket came when opener Hunter, having survived an earlier confident shout, was stumped.

Walton returned to the attack and removed local captain Bain with a good Watson catch at short cover with the locals on 112 for six after 33 overs.

However, the Stenhousemuir lower order were batting well, adding useful runs over the final overs.

Scott Campbell picked up two late wickets, the first a good caught and bowled to dismiss Atif, then two fine catches from Chris Dick at mid-off, the second off Watson.

That was the final wicket to fall as the home side finished at 159 for nine after 40 overs.

Haw took three for 25, Walton three for 27, Campbell two for 39, and Watson one for 33, a good showing with regular top order bowlers club captain Gareth James and Paul Singh both unavailable.

Having recently won two league games batting second Inverclyde were confident of reaching the target at the start of their innings, despite missing three key batsmen.

Faced with a pacy and accurate home attack that included several players who have played in their First Division winning team, Inverclyde openers took a while to get into their stride, but they batted solidly with a good opening partnership until Pilkington was bowled by Hunter at 68 in the 23rd over.

Campbell joined Dave Cooke, who had been batting well, and both tried to increase the scoring rate, but the home bowling attack continued to impress as the run rate continued to increase, with boundaries proving elusive.

Campbell was bowled by Hatif for 21 at 113 for two in the 37th over. Haw hit two late boundaries to finish on 14 not out, with Cooke remaining undefeated two short of what would have been a deserved half century, but Inverclyde were 30 runs short of victory at the end of their 40 overs to take the draw points.

Inverclyde travel to play Anniesland on Saturday in their final league match of the season.