Gerrards Cross’ struggles with the bat continued on Saturday as they drew against Datchet in their Home Counties Premier League Division Two meeting.

The match was reduced to 84 overs after overnight rain had delayed the start of play. Cross won their second toss of the season and opted to bowl, but failed to make any real impact on the Datchet top order.

Steve Naylor (25), Mark George (20), Gareth Harte (44) and Tim Alldis (35) all made telling contributions to take Datchet to 156-4.

Datchet’s attempts to increase their run rate in the final four overs were flawed though, and they stumbled to 167 all out. Elliot Green (4-29), Joe Bracey (2-38) and Ross Fyfe (2-46) all struck for Cross.

The total gave Cross genuine hope of recording their second win of the season, but they were cautious in the extreme in response.

A controlled Datchet bowling display saw Cross struggle to impose themselves and they stumbled to 35-1 from 15 overs at tea.

They would require a dramatic acceleration in their scoring if they were to come out on top. Such an upturn never materialised, however, and Cross were left someway short of their target on 75-6 at the close.

Steven Naylor (3-21), Gareth Harte (2-26) and Thomas Lambert (1-24) all struck for Datchet as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils.

The result leaves Cross rock bottom of the Division Two table ahead of a home match against Oxford on Saturday.