Fairford claim last-ball win in Village Knockout (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fairford claim last-ball win in Village Knockout

APRIL rarely features a Village KO clash of this quality - a 500-run, last-ball thriller and Fairford CC pinching this result with a positive batting display rarely seen at Park Street.

In the game, play on the Sunday before last, Old Down made their intentions known from the outset when opener Rowen crashed the second over of the match for 22.

Along with Kitchen, in a more restrained innings of 59, the visitors piled on the runs before losing their first wicket in the 21st over with the score on 136.

Rowen had to retire early, but returned to finish with a wonderful innings of 75.

But when Welsher (46) and Gardner (44) began to take advantage of a very good wicket, all looked bleak for the hosts.

Clarke and Morris, with two wickets each, returned good bowling figures under the onslaught, but 248 takes a lot of chasing in 40 overs.

Not to be outdone, Fairford openers, skipper Leadbeater and Townsend, adopted a very positive approach and the latter looked in ominous form, especially when Maunder's third over went for four huge sixes to bring up the 50.

The 100 came up in the 14th over and Townsend continued to hand out punishment to mediocre bowling.

He raced to a 54-ball century, the first of his career, which contained eight sixes.

His innings finally ended on a magnificent 111, made out of 154 in the 24th over.

Leadbeater, meanwhile, continued to a well deserved 50 of his own which was full of text- book cover drives.

When he departed on 180, Gray and Newport were left to nudge the bowling towards the huge target.

With 23 required from the last two overs, a win looked out of reach - until Newport hit Gardner for six in the last over and the match was Fairford's.