LAST BALL FINISH!

This well played, exciting match went right to the last ball with Ley Hill needing just four runs to beat high-fliers Knotty Green.  Unfortunately for the Hill, Knotty Skipper Chris Lewis kept his head and bowled an unplayable ball, so restricting Ley Hill to a losing draw.
Earlier, the Hill, having won the toss, had put Knotty into bat and for much of the innings the match was fairly even.  Although Knotty scored consistently – 18 being their lowest total – none of the batsmen were allowed to take the game by the scruff of the neck.  Openers Mehmood & Millington put on 40, and the second wicket stand of 45 by Millington & Sutton looked to have set Knotty up for a high score.  Sadly though it wasn’t to be and despite an excellent 5th wicket stand of 70 from Ritchie Lewis (40) and Day (38), Knotty were restricted to 235-6 – the exact total their captain had predicted would be enough to win.
Missing several players, the Ley Hill team had an unusual look about it, particularly in the bowling – both opening bowlers being absent.  Ben Ford, making his second appearance for Hill, looked particularly impressive with 2-17.
Losing their first wicket for only 16 put pressure on the Ley Hill batsmen and they responded superbly.  Craig Peterson scored an excellent 71, Captain Craig Ottaway 40 and Ben Ford completed a first rate performance with 48.  Which left Ley Hill needing ten off the last over to claim a surprise victory.  Tail-enders Scott Peterson and Paul Humphreys – neither exactly a slouch with the bat – responded by quickly running six of the runs leaving the Hill on 232-9 with one ball remaining…  Unfortunately victory for Ley Hill was not to be and the match ended in a draw.

Robin Carr