SHL Division Three Redbourn 172 drew with Ickleford 172 REDBOURN were involved in a thrilling finish in Saturday s game away to Ickleford which ended up with both teams scoring 172 all out and the match tied. Redbourn captain Dan Roe won the toss and ch

SHL Division Three

Redbourn 172 drew with Ickleford 172

REDBOURN were involved in a thrilling finish in Saturday's game away to Ickleford which ended up with both teams scoring 172 all out and the match tied.

Redbourn captain Dan Roe won the toss and chose to field on a pitch that was expected to help the seam bowlers after a week of wet weather.

Opening bowlers Jon Fleming and Darren Bassill both struggled to maintain a consistent line and length and bowled far too many bad balls as Ickleford raced to 66 in just 10 overs. Redbourn were able to pick up two wickets in this period though, both falling to Fleming, one thanks to yet another fantastic catch from Chris Godfrey in the gully. Bassill also got in on the act removing Mason for 23 to leave Ickleford on 80-3 and Redbourn back in the game.

Steve Root was then introduced to the attack and bowled with pace and aggression to take two quick wickets and with a wicket also for Faisal Khan, Redbourn were in control at 102-6. Ickleford fought back though and with a couple of partnerships were able to end on 172.

Chris Godfrey (2-23) picked up two late wickets and Fleming took another in a more controlled second spell to end with figures of 3-39 which perhaps do not tell the full story. It was left to Root to take the final Ickleford wicket and end with figures of 3-27. At this point Redbourn felt that the game was there for the taking. Some early poor bowling had let Ickleford score more that they should, but with a massive 58 overs to score the runs, the target should have been well within reach.

Redbourn's reply got off to a poor start, with Chris Yorath and Dan Roe both back in the pavilion with only 13 runs on the board.

Simon Osman and Root then looked to rebuild before Osman appeared to be unfortunate to be given out lbw for 22. Root played some excellent shots including three 6s in his quick-fire 32 but at 62-4 and then 83-6 Redbourn looked in real trouble. Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Geoff Tookey stood firm as he so often has done for Redbourn over the last few years. All he needed was someone to stay with him and after mini partnerships with Darren Bassill and Chris Godfrey, found the perfect partner in Faisal Khan. From 126-8, Tookey and Khan slowly batted Redbourn back into the game until only three runs were required from the final two balls.

Unfortunately Khan was run out for 15 going for a risky single but his efforts would not be wasted. Tookey was left on strike needing to score three for a victory that had looked unlikely only a few overs earlier.

He pushed the ball into the offside and he and new batsman Fleming scampered two runs to level the scores but was run out attempting the 3rd run to leave the match tied and 20 points each. After the game captain Roe commented: "We were not at our best today. We didn't bowl well and allowed Ickleford to score more than they perhaps should but we fancied ourselves to score the runs but we did not bat well enough either. Geoff played an excellent innings though and it was a shame that we could not quite get over the line, but we have to be happy with 20 points after a performance like that.