THE eagerly-anticipated head to head clash between the 2014 and 2015 Minor Counties champions was ruined by the rain and ended in a frustrating draw at Longton.

Staffordshire captain Kadeer Ali was unable to agree on a formula with his former England U19s team-mate, Cumberland captain Gary Pratt, to rescue the third day after rain had wiped out nearly eight hours, restricting play to just six hours five minutes of the first two days.

The end result was a draw, with Cumberland taking 11 points to Staffordshire's ten.

There were plenty of positives for Pratt's side which had five players making their respective Championship debuts including Barrow's Sam Dutton, who followed in the footsteps of his father Simon, a former championship-winning county captain.

Ryan Maddock, Liam Gray, Stephen Lucas and Mattie McKiernan were the other debutants.

With just five of last season's Championship-winning side available due to a variety of circumstances, Cumberland restricted the home side to 273 in the 88th over with a fine display of bowling and fielding.

Staffs' number six Michael Hill was left becalmed on 95 not out off 111 balls when Greg Willott holed out with his side two runs shy of a third batting point. Leg-spinner McKiernan bowled impressively to take five wickets on his Championship debut, ending with 5-120 off 34.5 overs. He gave valuable support to Toby Bulcock, so often the workhorse of the Cumbrian attack, who took 4-70 off 29 overs with fellow spinner Christopher Hodgson capturing the other wicket to fall.

Gary Knight combined his impressive wicket-keeping duties after Liam Parkinson's late withdrawal through injury with a key role with the bat, providing the mainstay role in Cumberland's reply with a composed three-hour knock of 69.

Maddock (39) and Bulcock (37) provided valuable lower order runs as Cumberland earned three batting points thanks to a last-wicket stand of 41 between Bulcock and Hodgson after Knight and Maddock had posted 73 for the eighth wicket.

In the time that remained Staffs captain Ali completed an unbeaten century, reaching 108 before stumps were drawn at 5.30pm as his side closed on 199 for 2. Staffs all rounder Alex Thomson scored 49 and 51 and took 4-69 with his off-spin.

RESULT: Minor Counties Championship Eastern Division at Longton: Staffordshire 273 (MJ Hill 95no, AT Thomson 49, MH McKiernan 5-120, T Bulcock 4-70) and 199 for 2 (Kadeer Ali 108no, AT Thomson 51) drew with Cumberland 276 (G Knight 69, MC Goodwin 4-53, AT Thomson 4-69). Match drawn at 530pm on the third day. Staffs 10pts, Cumberland 11pts.