BLYTHE'S bottom order needed to dig deep to scrape a draw against a free-scoring Rode Park.

Batting first at Cresswell, all of the Rode Park top eight made double figures, with West Indian pro Steve Liburd the stand-out performer as he clubbed his way to a brutal 95.

However, the visitors – currently lying in a lowly 10th – are a side low on confidence and delayed a declaration until they reached 300 – a decision skipper Jason Gallimore would be left to rue.

Gallimore (25) and fellow opener Stuart Nixon (16), made starts before being dismissed by Rob Mozelewski and Peter Finch.

And captain Finch was the star performer with the ball with figures of 4-49.

Mozelewski also caught the eye with a stunning direct hit to run out Neil Chadwick (25).

But the Blythe reply was dealt an early blow when Martin Bailey was stumped for five, with Rob Ginders (7) following soon after.

Hayden Simcock maintained his fine form as he supported professional Nilantha Cooray.

Simcock eventually fell for 38, making way for batting prodigy Matt Goodwin.

Cooray showed his class with the bat in an innings which included two huge sixes.

Eventually, the Sri Lankan was dismissed for 51 in 30 balls, while Goodwin made a quick-fire 30 before falling to a caught and bowled from Ryan Jones.

Wickets started to fall and only a patient 22 from Simon Owen prevented a total collapse.

Craig Grimley and the normally cavalier Mozelewski put on 30 for the ninth wicket, and more importantly, batted for 10 overs to all but secure the draw.

Mozelewski fell with two balls left to ensure a nail-biting finish, but Finch rode out the storm to collect nine points for Blythe.

Mozelewski, with 19 scalps at an average of 24.21, is his side's leading wicket taker after joining from top flight Porthill Park during the winter.

Sitting in fourth, 17 points behind Sandyford in the second promotion spot, the 24-year-old seamer remains confident Blythe are on course to join his former club in the Premier Division next season.

"In the baking hot weather, the wicket was more like the M6 than a cricket strip and Rode Park made the most of the conditions," he said.

"We were lucky they delayed their decision to declare and we needed to have our wits about us to make sure we didn't slip to a defeat.

"While this was not one of our best performances with either bat or ball, we are continuing to pick up points and stay in contention for promotion."