Matt Metcalfe was left marooned as Bashley (Rydal) foiled a gallant Lymington fight-back to tie a nerve jangling ECB Southern Premier League derby.
The all-rounder led the recovery as Lymington rallied from 141-8 to match Bashley’s 178 all out with one wicket still intact.
But, having hit an unbeaten 31 and taken Lymington to within a whisker of victory, Metcalfe watched in horror as last-man Ed Freeman drilled a chest-high catch to mid-off.
It tied the scores at 178 runs each – the only time in 16 years an all-day Premier Division Time Pennant match had ended in such a fashion.
It was a remarkable end to a pulsating New Forest derby which ebbed and flowed throughout and kept a good sized crowd on the edge of their seats.
Batting nine, Metcalfe arrived at the crease with Lymington 117-7 and teenage Dorset left-armer Brad Currie (pictured by Terry Nash)on the brink of a debut-making five-wicket SPL haul.
The 17-year old former Poole Grammar paceman and Simon Ridley (3-31) appeared to have set up a sixth win in eight for the Premier Division leaders.
But Lymington’s lower-order mounted some stern resistance with Cam Grierson (15) adding precious runs (to 141-8) before Metcalfe’s zany ninth-wicket stand with normal third teamer Josh Bowring (11), which yielded another 27, edged the reply to 168-9 when Currie (5-41) clinched his nap-hand haul.
All seemed lost for Bashley soon after when a wayward leg-side Jake Lilley wide went to the fine-leg boundary to gift Lymington five more welcome runs to take the score to 176-9.
Two singles later and the scores were level.
But Freeman, no mean number 11 batsman, drove Lilley’s next ball into the grateful clutches of a relieved Ryan Macciocchi, who had floored a similar catch at mid-off earlier on.
As Bashley celebrated, scarcely believing their luck, Metcalfe stood motionless, barely able to believe what he had just witnessed.
A crestfallen Freeman looked for the ground to open up beneath him.
Bashley had been made to work hard for their runs in the morning session.
Put into bat on a grassy surface, they came in at lunch 89-2 with Simon Ridley having crafted a workmanlike 36, only to be trapped leg-before by Zimbabwean spin all-rounder Richard Lock with the second ball after the interval.
Michael Porter (30) and Chris Vaughan (25) lifted Bashley to 124-3, only for Metcalfe (4-56) and Lock (3-57) to take three quick wickets and leave Chris Ridley (29) and Tynesider Macciocchi (13) the responsibility of easing the score to an eventual 178 all out.
Three wickets for Currie reduced Lymington to 31-3 – a position Lock (40) and Ed Ellis (34) improved with a half-century stand.
Simon Ridley (3-31) broke the partnership and, having removed both batsmen, left Lymington facing a probable defeat at 117-7.
But then came the pulsating fight-back which frayed nerves and brought the contest to a thrilling climax …
The all-rounder led the recovery as Lymington rallied from 141-8 to match Bashley’s 178 all out with one wicket still intact.
But, having hit an unbeaten 31 and taken Lymington to within a whisker of victory, Metcalfe watched in horror as last-man Ed Freeman drilled a chest-high catch to mid-off.
It tied the scores at 178 runs each – the only time in 16 years an all-day Premier Division Time Pennant match had ended in such a fashion.
It was a remarkable end to a pulsating New Forest derby which ebbed and flowed throughout and kept a good sized crowd on the edge of their seats.
Batting nine, Metcalfe arrived at the crease with Lymington 117-7 and teenage Dorset left-armer Brad Currie (pictured by Terry Nash)on the brink of a debut-making five-wicket SPL haul.
The 17-year old former Poole Grammar paceman and Simon Ridley (3-31) appeared to have set up a sixth win in eight for the Premier Division leaders.
But Lymington’s lower-order mounted some stern resistance with Cam Grierson (15) adding precious runs (to 141-8) before Metcalfe’s zany ninth-wicket stand with normal third teamer Josh Bowring (11), which yielded another 27, edged the reply to 168-9 when Currie (5-41) clinched his nap-hand haul.
All seemed lost for Bashley soon after when a wayward leg-side Jake Lilley wide went to the fine-leg boundary to gift Lymington five more welcome runs to take the score to 176-9.
Two singles later and the scores were level.
But Freeman, no mean number 11 batsman, drove Lilley’s next ball into the grateful clutches of a relieved Ryan Macciocchi, who had floored a similar catch at mid-off earlier on.
As Bashley celebrated, scarcely believing their luck, Metcalfe stood motionless, barely able to believe what he had just witnessed.
A crestfallen Freeman looked for the ground to open up beneath him.
Bashley had been made to work hard for their runs in the morning session.
Put into bat on a grassy surface, they came in at lunch 89-2 with Simon Ridley having crafted a workmanlike 36, only to be trapped leg-before by Zimbabwean spin all-rounder Richard Lock with the second ball after the interval.
Michael Porter (30) and Chris Vaughan (25) lifted Bashley to 124-3, only for Metcalfe (4-56) and Lock (3-57) to take three quick wickets and leave Chris Ridley (29) and Tynesider Macciocchi (13) the responsibility of easing the score to an eventual 178 all out.
Three wickets for Currie reduced Lymington to 31-3 – a position Lock (40) and Ed Ellis (34) improved with a half-century stand.
Simon Ridley (3-31) broke the partnership and, having removed both batsmen, left Lymington facing a probable defeat at 117-7.
But then came the pulsating fight-back which frayed nerves and brought the contest to a thrilling climax …