BARTESTREE and Lugwardine under-15s remain in pole position in the Herefordshire Junior Cricket League after holding challengers Brockhampton to a pulsating draw.

Bartestree travelled to Brockhampton, knowing that they needed to avoid defeat to maintain their chance of winning the league.

Brockhampton have a strong side and beat them by 29 runs in the cup a few weeks prior.

After winning the toss and electing to bat Elliot Gale got Bartestree off to a customary good start, moving to 23-0 off the first 3 overs with some aggressive shot making against a good opening bowling attack.

In the fourth over Ethan Bartlett was caught by an excellent catch at short mid-off by Edward Maxted, and Elliot Gale followed soon after nicking off to leave Bartestree 44-2 off 7 overs.

Will Beaumont and Tommy Spence then continued their side’s positive intent and they progressed to 70-2 in the 11th over.

Bartestree then lost a cluster of wickets leaving them on 90-6 and in danger of finishing below par.

However, Ewan Boyle and Dominic Goodman put on an excellent seventh wicket partnership of 31 to take us to a competitive 121-6 off 20 overs.

Brockhampton batsmen Griff Bubb (39) and Maxted (30) played aggressively and raced to 49-0 after 7 overs and then 65-0 after 10 to leave them looking well placed to chase down the total.

However, Bartestree starting picking up wickets leaving the game finely balanced with Brockhampton on 112-5 and needing 10 to win off the last over.

 Brockhampton then need four to win off the last 2 balls.  A fist ball flayed to the boundary for two runs meant that the hosts needed two to win off the last ball.

The final ball was clipped off the batsman’s legs – towards one of the Bartestree fielders – but dropped.

The resultant single meant the game finished in a tie.