Hill denied in dramatic finale (From Enfield Independent)

Hill denied in dramatic finale

8:50am Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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TO MANY the final moments of Winchmore Hill's Middlesex County Cricket League Division 1 clash against Stanmore may be seen as a disappointment.

Hill required just one run from the final two balls of the match to secure a winning draw.

However, they were unable to get anything from the first delivery, and when Matt Barker was run out with a direct hit trying to scramble his side to victory from the second, Hill had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Importantly, though, the match showed the resolve they will need if they are to escape relegation trouble this season, as well as denying Stanmore, who lie below them in the table, maximum points.

The visitors were hit by the loss of Matt Bowen to a pulled hamstring after just seven balls. But Hill pulled themselves back into the game to restrict Stanmore to 116-5 at lunch.

Dan Amadee and Darrel Brown, who claimed his first five-wicket haul for Hill, shone with the ball, but with Stanmore skipper Reingold cleverly marshalling the tail the home side was able to declare om 237-9 after 68 overs.

After seeing his side lose several early wickets, Jim Gatting steadied the ship for Winchmore Hill with a fine knock of 81no, and found able allies in both Morgan Prior and Sasha Selveratnum to take the hosts to the brink of survival.

When the rain came Hill were just one run short of four points. But with four overs being lost, they were set a revised target of eight from 11 balls.

High drama ensued as Barker crashed a cover drive for four leaving Hill needing four from the final over. And although they managed three, they eventually had to settle for a share of the spoils.

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