SAHAM Toney had to hold on for a losing draw on Saturday with another poor performance against Hillington and will hope for better this week at Dereham.

SAHAM Toney had to hold on for a losing draw on Saturday with another poor performance against Hillington and will hope for better this week at Dereham.

After winning the toss, Saham decided to bowl first and again made early break through with Ben Smart clean bowling Hillington opening bat.

Saham continued to take wickets but Hillington kept the run rate up playing some good shots to the home side's wayward bowling.

Skipper Simon Mower and David Ellis did manage to slow the scoring down in the middle, but still anything loose was punished.

Ben Smart returned to the attack and picked up two more to finish with 4-57.

Saham failed to take their chances in field and pick up the last wicket as Hillington finished on 229-9.

Simon Mower was probably the pick of the home side's attack with figures of 2-45 off 12.

The extras cost Saham again as they bowled 27 wides!

A good start was required for Saham to chase their target, but a slow start and regular wickets, Saham's batting unit had failed for the first time this season. Andy McGeorge 31 the highest score, as seven of the nine wickets to fall were clean bowled.

Ben Smart (23) and David Ellis (22) helped Saham recover a little and it was left to Will Dyer and Will Smart to see out the rest of the overs and get Saham two more points. Saham closing on 160-9.

Skipper Simon Mower said: 'We are still gelling together as a new squad and trying to work out the right combinations with batting and bowling.'

Saham are currently fourth in their league, 24 points adrift of the promotion places.

Hillington: C Barber b Smart, M Jarvis c McGeorge b Smart 27, S Fisher lbw Pitkethley 14, M Osborne lbw Mower 27, A Dobing c Thomas b Smart 65, S Thaxton c W Smart b Mower 3, A Jarvis c-b.Smart 42, AA Jarvis c McGeorge b Pitkethley 3, M Taylor run out 11, A Cooper not out 8, C Matthews not out 1; extras 28. Total 229-9. Bowling: B Smart 12-3-57-4, J Norman 5-1-28-0, S Pitkethley 6-1-32-2, W Dyer 5-0-33-0, S Mower 12-0-45-2, D Ellis 6-0-34-0.

Saham: A Wood b Taylor 3, D Sims b Taylor 19, M Thomas b Matthews 4, A McGeorge b Jarvis 31, S Mower b Jarvis 7, S Pitkethley c Barber b Dobling 4, B Smart b Dobling 23, D Ellis c AA Jarvis b Thaxton 22, J Norman b Thaxton 5, W Dyer not out 14, W Smart not out 8; extras 20. Total 160-9. Bowling: M Taylor 12-4-30-2, C Matthews 11-2-39-1, A Jarvis 6-1-17-2, A Dobing 8-1-30-2, S Thaxton 5-1-17-2, AA Jarvis 3-2-7-0, C Barber 1-0-6- 0.