A DELIGHTFUL double from frontman Jermain Defoe earned Cherries a share of the spoils in an action-packed 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

The experienced striker extended to 10 goals in 11 games his clinical scoring record against the Eagles with his efforts coming either side of strikes from Luka Milivojevic and Scott Dann.

All the goals came in an enthralling first half at Selhurst Park, with Cherries recording their fourth draw of the campaign.

But the drama was far from over there as a late penalty save from keeper Asmir Begovic denied Christian Benteke claiming all three points for the hosts in stoppage time.

With Adam Smith unavailable through suspension, Steve Cook returned to Cherries’ starting XI for the clash against the Eagles.

He came in at centre-half with skipper Simon Francis switching to right-back.

Harry Arter, who was dropped for the 1-1 draw against Southampton, took a place on the bench.

Defender Jack Simpson was among the substitutes with Marc Pugh the man to be left out of the squad.

The hosts kept faith with keeper Julian Speroni and also welcomed back midfielder Yohan Cabaye and defender James Tomkins.

And it was Palace who created the first sign of an opening after just three minutes.

Andros Townsend’s cross from the right narrowly evaded striker Benteke and was stabbed to safety by Francis.

Jeffrey Schlupp then fired over the bar for the visitors in what was a blistering opening five minutes.

On his 250th league appearance, Wilfried Zaha beat Steve Cook inside the area and drilled the ball in for Benteke, who miscued his headed effort wide.

But it was Cherries who took the lead on 10 minutes with a slick training ground move from a corner.

Andrew Surman and Junior Stanislas combined with the former teeing the ball up for Defoe, who applied a trademark finish into the bottom corner to record his 200th league goal.

Schlupp protested to the match official that he had been fouled by Joshua King in the build-up to the opener, but his appeals were ignored by referee Kevin Friend.

Having taken the lead, Cherries had to absorb further pressure.

After Begovic had initially saved from Benteke, a last-ditch block from Ake thwarted a vicious effort from Townsend on the angle.

A second big chance came for Cherries midway through the first half however, and it was that man Defoe who almost doubled his tally.

He raced in on goal after being played onside by the injured Mamadou Sakho, only to see his effort blocked by a sliding Tomkins. Former Liverpool man Sakho was then replaced by centre-half Dann.

On 41 minutes, a controversial call saw Palace draw level from the penalty spot.

A long ball flicked on by Benteke saw Zaha run in on goal. After getting goal side of Ake, he went down under the challenge of Begovic and referee Friend pointed to the spot.

Up stepped midfielder Milivojevic, who smashed the ball home from 12 yards to make it 1-1.

Just three minutes later, Palace were ahead.

After initially threatening from a corner, Cabaye fizzed the ball to the back post for Dann to convert, and increase his remarkable scoring run against the Dorset club to four in four games.

But it was striker Defoe who continued to threaten and he put the visitors level at 2-2 with a moment of magic in first-half stoppage time.

Running on to a ball from deep played by Lewis Cook, the England international judged his strike on the bounce perfectly from an improbable angle to loft the ball over Speroni and into the far corner.

Following the break, Surman then had his chance to put the visitors back in front. He failed to keep his shot down after King had surged into the box and found the midfielder.

After Begovic had saved easily from Cabaye at the other end. Defoe then scuffed wide after he found space to divert Stanislas’s cutback goalwards from inside the box.

With both sides pushing for a third, Steve Cook then came to Cherries’ rescue to prevent Cabaye, who was bearing down on goal after more trickery from Zaha and a pass from Townsend.

Lewis Cook entered the referee’s book for a cynical trip on Zaha, who also saw yellow for his reaction to the challenge.

Both sides looked likely to add to their tallies in the second period and the Eagles should have with 13 minutes remaining.

After Steve Cook had fouled Zaha, a free-kick was flicked on by Benteke into the path of Dann, who could only blaze over unchallenged from three yards out.

Milivojevic then fluffed his lines by poking the ball wide before the Eagles had another chance from 12 yards to win it.

Zaha was judged to have been felled by Charlie Daniels inside the box. This time Benteke stepped up but saw his tame penalty saved by Begovic.

MATCH FACTS

Palace: Speroni, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, Sakho (Dann, 25), Schlupp, Milivojevic, Cabaye (McArthur, 65), Loftus-Cheek, Townsend (Sako, 78), Zaha, Benteke.

Unused subs: Van Aanholt, Kelly, Puncheon, Hennessey (g/k)

Booked: Tomkins, Milivojevic, Zaha, McArthur, Benteke.

Cherries: Begovic; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Daniels; Stanislas (Ibe, 65), L Cook, Surman, Fraser (Afobe, 87); King; Defoe (Wilson, 80).

Unused subs: Simpson, Gosling, Arter, Boruc (g/k).

Booked: Begovic, L Cook

Referee: Kevin Friend