Fairford Cricket Club shares the honours in an absorbing tie (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fairford Cricket Club shares the honours in an absorbing tie

FAIRFORD Cricket Club's belated start to the league season produced an absorbing tie on Saturday when both teams threw away opportunities to inflict defeat on their opponents.

Inserted by their Cheltenham hosts on a wicket that improved throughout the day, Town lost two early wickets.

Gray went to a cavalier shot while Townsend was hemmed in trying to clear the biggest outfield in the league.

Leadbitter, with a dogged innings, and Newport took Town to the half-way point before Leadbitter played on for 30.

Greener's arrival injected more purpose and a mighty range of stroke play as he raced to 55 at a run-a-ball.

He blitzed a disciplined bowling attack before unluckily falling to a boundary catch having dominated a stand of 79.

Newport, unusually more circumspect, continued the run assault, reaching a determined 59. And the energetic running of Clarke ensured that Town posted a challenging 191-4.

In reply, Bird took a wicket first ball and Clarke's efforts also produced a wicket early on.

If a half-chance had been held, the hosts would have been three down for 12. Bird eventually took the third wicket, returning 2-32 in an unbroken bowling spell.

The hosts, however, began to wrest the initiative, thanks to disciplined batting.

Moreing's toiling, Peyman's best efforts and excellent ground fielding from Cook and Bullock earned scant reward as the hosts reached 174-4.

In fact, with overs to spare, they looked sure to win their first game in the division, having been promoted in 2003.

In a final twist, Newport broke through before Townsend sent panic through the Civil Service ranks with three wickets in an over which brought Town to the verge of an improbable win.

But they were to be denied by some desperate batting and a suicidal last-ball run-out to leave the scores tied.