A spirited batting display from Cove frustrated Marlow as the sides played out a draw in the Thames Valley Cricket League on Saturday.

Given the favourable batting conditions, Cove’s decision to bowl against their Division One opponents was a strange one.

The early departure of Imran Nawaz for 12 suggested the visitors may have made a wise decision though, especially when Joe Brown followed shortly after.

However, an excellent partnership between Barney Hogg (54) and Graeme Paskins (98) swung momentum back in Marlow’s favour.

The pair put on 84 for the third wicket at a rapid rate which continued once Hogg was caught behind and Ben Peel came to the crease.

Peel made a quick 29 alongside Paskins in a partnership worth 65 before Gary Lines (38) helped Marlow to 249-6 from their 52 overs.

Jordan Finney was Cove’s most potent bowler with 3-75 while Noel Gurr 2-83 and Nick Randall 1-25 also chipped in.

Marlow’s big score gave them every chance of securing victory, but at 40 without loss Cove appeared to be coping well with Marlow’s spin attack.

Once the first wicket had fallen Marlow made serious headway to reduce their opponents to 94-5 and take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Paul Brzezicki (2-17) and Steve Sylvester (2-39) were at the forefront of the glut of wickets, but were stopped in their tracks by James March and Jake Roylance.

Both batsmen were unbeaten on their way to making scores of 55 and 71 and saw out the remainder of the innings to earn their side a draw.

Their refusal to depart almost gave Cove the win, but their chase ultimately came up 29 runs short of a victory.

Ben Peel was the only other Marlow man to claim a wicket which he took for an expensive 71.