TO DECLARE or not to declare that was the question facing Netherfield skipper Scott Clement as the weather took the script out of his hands against Fleetwood on Saturday.

Dark clouds rolled over the Parkside Road ground all afternoon, but the rain held off to enable the home batsmen to work themselves into a strong position.

When the shower became heavy enough to halt play, Netherfield stood at 216-3 in the 42nd over.

Three overs were lost because of the stoppage and whether that was a winning score was a tricky call.

Clement opted to bat on to the end and, by throwing the bat, the final haul was lifted to a formidable 250-6 off a rain-reduced 47 overs.

An Australian who plies his trade in Scotland, Ian Moran was Netherfield's third substitute professional of the season.

He earned his pay, a hard-hitting 84 off 69 balls topping the scores with support from Ryan Brown (45) and Simon Little (32).

After a solid start from Craig Walmsley and Tommy Prime to add 41 for the first wicket, Moran fostered partnerships of 96 with Brown and then 65 with Little before he was out, having hit a six and 12 fours, Another stoppage for rain reduced the Fleetwood innings to 40 overs, but they amassed 61 in 15 overs before the breakthrough came.

Sharpish pace bowling from Moran brought him two more quick victims for 3-39 at that stage, which was later to become 3-66.

Leg-spinner Marc Hadwin (3-51) was introduced to the attack and brought renewed hope with an early strike and then two in four balls as Fleetwood wilted from 91-4 to six down at 134. But with no chance of the visitors achieving the target, Mark Clinning compiled an obstinate unbeaten 52 to hinder progress and Fleetwood batted out for the draw at 157-6. Netherfield took eight points to Fleetwood's three.