DEPLETED Cookhill had to settle for a tie in a thrilling contest at Barnards Green 3rds’ Newlands home on Saturday.
The visitors travelled with just ten players but came within a whisker of securing a final over victory, only for Simon Edmunds to be trapped leg before having struck the previous ball for four.
Cookhill ended a run of four consecutive toss losses and fielded first in this Worcestershire League Division Six encounter.
Edmunds (1-41 off nine), Luke Eversham (2-36 off nine) and Neil Shuttleworth (1-29 off nine) all impressed with the ball for Cookhill as the hosts were reduced to 102-5, but impressive knocks from George Blannin (53no) and Neil Morris (64no) guided Barnards Green to 208-5 off their 45 overs.
Excellent batting from Eversham (71) and Stuart Griffiths (38) took the visitors to 136-1 but the former’s departure to a stunning catch proved to be a decisive moment.
Wickets continued to fall steadily as numerous Cookhill batsmen got starts they could not build on and, when Kenny Hirst was bowled by one that kept low for 17, the visitors required 20 to win with two wickets remaining.
Zach Marsh (4-44) struck again as Robert Waters (11) missed a straight delivery, so it came down to the final over with Cookhill needing five for victory and the hosts one wicket.
The first ball was whipped away to the boundary by Edmunds but, with the scores tied, he was struck on the front pad the very next ball as Cookhill were dismissed for 208.
Fourth placed Cookhill, who are eight points off top spot, host Birlingham on Saturday.
