It was a case of personal bests all round as Malden Wanderers restricted the Premier Division title chasers Sunbury to a winning draw.

The hosts would have returned to the top of the table on Saturday with a victory over struggling Malden, however Alan Cope’s career best of 134 off 167 balls proved an invaluable foundation in reaching 276-9 declared.

Then, up step Giles Puckle to take a Premier Division career best of 6-86 to keep all but the Sunbury opener quiet – John Maunders carried his bat for 130 – as the hosts reached 253-9 before stumps.

Puckle, a left arm spinner who has been a Malden since he was 16 in 1996, said: “It was a case of putting in the right areas. We knew Sunbury were going to bat positively because they wanted the win.

“We set decent field positions and really waited on them to make mistakes.

“At the end, both sides were disappointed not to win. “They needed 20 more runs and we needed just one more wicket, but we could not get over the line.

“That has been our story this season, we just need to be a little more ruthless when trying to get over the line.”

Malden host bottom club East Molesey this weekend. The last time the sides met, Malden were comfortable winners by five wickets.