Bourton Vale CC tie a thrilling game that they should have won (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Bourton Vale CC tie a thrilling game that they should have won

FOR the crowd who witnessed Saturday's Cherwell Cricket League thriller at Bourton, it was great entertainment which was decided on the final two balls of the afternoon.

However, for the Vale hosts, a tied game meant utter disappointment as they had played so well for 99 overs, only to throw away a real chance of victory in five minutes of madness in this Division One game against Kidlington.

The result was made even worse for Vale when they discovered that league leaders Bicester could manage only a draw.

Bourton can still win the title, but their task could have been made a lot easier had they scored just one more run.

On a warm day, Bourton Vale lost the toss to Oxford side Kidlington and were asked to field.

They made a good start by dismissing opener Prabu for nought off the bowling of Ryan Newhook. In fact, things got better for the Vale as they then had prolific batsmen Andy Buckingham bowled by Rob Pike.

But Kidlington captain Mark Strong held firm to score 110 and, with the middle order making good contributions, the visitors finished on 259-5 off their 50 overs. In reply, Bourton lost Mark Whitney for one, but then Alex Fateh joined overseas batsman Luke Murray and, together, they put on 164 for the second wicket.

Murray was out for 98 playing across a straight ball and was lbw.

When Fateh completed his first league ton with a drive through the covers, he looked likely to take Bourton to victory as they needed just two runs to win with one over remaining.

But he was dismissed for 108 and Matt Kyte fell first ball, leaving Bourton still needing two off two balls.

A scampered single off the fifth ball left only one run to win. Incredibly, Jo Jenkins was then run out and the game finished in a dead-heat.