Bailey?s Bay retained the Eastern Counties championship on Saturday after securing a draw against a spirited Flatts side at Sea Breeze Oval.

The game was ruined as a spectacle, however, following a prolonged and heavy shower at lunchtime which allowed for only 63 overs to be bowled in the day ? out of the scheduled 110.

Set a total of 152 to win in an innings reduced to 30 overs, Bay were always favourites to keep the coveted silverware, but not before Flatts gave the defending champions a considerable scare with a clutch of early wickets.

While Flatts? two opening bowlers, Chris Caisey and Gary Brangman, made little impression with the new ball, the introduction of two left arm spinners, Dwayne Leverock and Vernon Eve, changed the complexion of the game entirely.

Bay?s Dennis Trott, who had looked composed and untroubled against the medium pacers, top edged a leg side heave off Leverock almost immediately and was caught at short leg by skipper Derek Wright for six while Jermaine Warner (9) was bowled through the gate with what looked from a distance to be Leverock?s arm ball.

Batting at number three, Irvine Romaine (17) was his usual powerful self before, slightly beaten in the flight by Eve, he drilled a ball back at the bowler who held on to a spectacular reaction catch.

Call Dill Jr. fell soon after, caught at deep square leg by a sprinting Caisey off the bowling of Eve.

At 36 for four, the game looked to be sliding the challengers? way and Bay supporters were becoming distinctly restless.

But as was the case in the last round, when Bay drew with Cleveland batting second, veteran Charlie Marshall restored calm to proceedings with a measured 36 not out.

Aided by his skipper Jermaine Outerbridge (32 not out), Marshall resisted his natural attacking instincts, playing with an ease and an assurance to which Flatts? bowling attack had no answer.

There was one scare for Marshall when Leverock, bowling round the wicket to the left-hander, got one to turn and bounce before the ball landed up in the hands of short leg. Flatts were convinced that Marshall had got a touch ? but umpire Roger Dill remained unmoved.

Frustrated by Marshall and Outerbridge?s obstinacy, Flatts tried nine different bowlers in an attempt to break the deadlock ? but apart from Leverock and Eve, none looked remotely threatening on a fairly placid surface.

Earlier, Flatts had accumulated 151 for seven in their 33 overs, thanks mainly to an impressive lower order 42 from Rahji Edness.

Lloyd Fray (24), James Celestine (18), Wright (17) and Gary Brangman (16 not out), who smashed the last ball of the innings for an enormous six over square leg, all assisted in some way.

Corey Hill bowled 15 overs for Bay, snaffling three wickets for 49 while youngster Rodney Trott picked up two, although his wickets came at more than seven an over.