WILL Jones saved Harpenden from a certain loss with a century against top of the table Henley on Saturday.

Coming in at number seven, the Hertfordshire County player smashed the ball all over the ground, reaching and clearing the rope 19 times on his way to 113.

Jones’ interjection on Harpenden’s stuttering innings was much needed.

Having been inserted by Henley, Dan Blacktopp was trapped LBW by the first ball of the innings. And when Chad Breetzke was caught without troubling the score, Harpenden were 1-2.

Ben Frazer failed to capitalise on hitting a six when he was clean bowled for 10. Harpenden’s other opener Gregg Copper had been batting cautiously, making 16 from 52 balls, but he was soon back in the club house with the score on 40-4.

When Nick Lamb joined his teammates after being caught with the score on 52-5, Harpenden’s top five batsmen had contributed 45 runs.

Jake Pankhurst and James Latham put together a fleeting eight-run partnership before the latter was dismissed, leaving the innings on 60-6 and Harpenden facing the possibility of being bowled out for less than 100.

Out strode Jones and with Pankhurst the pair dominated the bowling. In a partnership of 98 the pair rescued the innings from the jaws of humiliation. Pankhurst found the boundary five times as he contributed 23 runs to the partnership before he was given out LBW.

Jones, on 75 and batting well, welcomed Alex Spencer to the middle. The duo continued the good work, pushing the score to 214 before Jones was caught.

The innings did not last long after Jones’ dismissal; Spencer was caught for 21 and Simon White added four.

Henley’s reply got off to a good start with Michael Roberts and David Barnes putting on 37 runs for the first wicket. Not content just starring with the bat; Jones took the first wicket, removing Barnes for seven.

The next three wickets fell without many runs being added to the total as Henley slumped from 37-1 to 68-4. Frazer took all three wickets, which included opener Roberts (42).

Hamza Riazuddin steadied the ship with a well-crafted 39 off 90 balls, despite seeing Bjorn Mordt (8) and Todd Ferguson (11) come and go.

At 110-6 Cameron Boyce joined Riazuddin and the pair put on 35-run seventh wicket stand before the latter was caught behind by Blacktopp of Pankhurst.

With three wicket left to get, Harpenden were left wondering what could have been as Boyce (43no) and Tahir Afridi (11no) saw off the remaining overs to claim a draw for Henley.

Final score: Henley (190-7) drew with Harpenden (223).

The draw leaves Harpenden in third place in the league, 25 points (the same as a win) behind Henley. Lamb’s side welcome Slough CC to the Common on Saturday. 11am start.