If you thought the Test Match was exciting, you should have been at Meadow Styles on Saturday.
The Bears set a target with Richard Dryden leading the way with 76. Phil Brooks chipped in with 30 odd and Dan Strange with 26. But Challow, chasing, needed only 6 to win off the last over with 6 wickets in hand. But a combination of wily bowling from Ian Murdoch and some fuzzy thinking from the batters saw Challow lose 4 wickets in the over and finish 1 run shy of gaining a tie. Murdoch took two wickets and there were two run outs. With one ball remaining, Challow needed two to win but the ball sped through to Phil, keeping wicket, and with both batsmen stood next to each other at the strikers end Brooksie had the presence of mind to roll the ball to the other end and secure the run out.
Meanwhile the 1's pattern of starting well and then fading continued. Wolverton 93-1 off 30 overs smashed a further 150 from the next 23 overs to post a challenging 243-3. Midds and Steve Bird looked comfortable early on but wickets began to fall and it was down to Steve Bird's 62 not out, batting 53 overs and Harsh Tataria's 35 minute knock to save the draw.
The 1's need to get back on track this weekend against Witney to stay in the promotion hunt.
