CRICKET: Poulton keeper forces dramatic tie

9:26am Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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POULTON wicket-keeper Rob Hill forced a tie in the last over with a brilliant run-out.

Corse needed a mere two runs to win from the last over with their last man at the crease and promptly tied the game with a quick single.

But, on the next ball, Hill dived athletically to the leg side and, in the same movement, threw the ball to the bowler's end with the batsmen caught mid-wicket.

Poulton had been invited to bat on a flat track, having lost the toss, and Mark Higginson (77) and Sam Denning (72) proved the chief run-scorers after each had made a tentative start.

It was Denning's maiden league 50, an innings of shot making which bodes well for the future for Poulton CC.

With a score of 250-plus possible, Poulton's middle order took their eyes off the ball and collapsed in some style, apart from Andy James (20no), who used his experience to see Poulton through to 235-8.

In reply, Corse's openers Turner and Tyrer piled on the agony after a controversial appeal was refused and chances were floored.

However, a silly run out and an extremely unfortunate attack of cramp later, and both openers were in the pavilion. James grabbed three wickets and two further run-outs put the game firmly in the balance.

With Andy Loubser back on with eight overs to go, Corse needed 35 to win and the game was always going down to the wire.

Two quick Loubser wickets meant ten were needed off the last two overs and, when the 14-year-old No 9 hit one over the top for four in the penultimate over, Poulton looked a beaten side - until Hill's agile late work.