VETERAN cricket team Fossils started their 21st year by drawing both of the first two games.

They played Warwick 70s at the Corley ground, near Coventry, and decided to bat after winning the toss.

Openers Peter Gurr (50) and Keith Williams (8) soon had 37 on the board before the latter departed and Chris Taylor joined in a stand of 64.

Gurr was bowled by Finch and Taylor retired on 50 from 65 balls.

Martin Woodward made a quick 29 not out as Fossils declared on 174-4.

Warwick were always behind the clock as Woodward and Paul Thompson bowled well, keeping the ball up to the bat.

Joe Sanderson scored 89 before Taylor stumped him off the evergreen Peter Tudge.

Held in check by good bowling and fielding from Fossils, Warwick finished on 160-5 and a good game ended in a draw.

In the annual Matt Jones Trophy match against Pearmen, Fossils were on course for a win until Glyn Thomas got out for a hard-hitting 37.

Pearmen batted first and made 135-6 from 32 overs before declaring and leaving Fossils 38 overs to get the runs.

Tudge (3-7 from five overs) was the pick of Fossils’ bowlers, as Pearmen only had 15 on the board after 10 overs, but then four dropped catches did not help the cause.

An exciting stand of 76 between Mike Box (51) and Rob Hankin (37) changed the game.

Fossils started badly with Nigel Price run out for a duck in the first over but this only brought to the crease Thomas, who played with real freedom.

Simon Hudson hit 26 and put on 31 with Thompson (14).

The younger Pearmen fielders stopped many of the Fossils batsmen’s good shots.

Of the lower order, Woodward (19) held the innings together and, with John Reynolds, held on for a draw on 116-9.

Pearmen retained the trophy as a result.