BERE REGIS 164-9 tied with BOURNEMOUTH II 164-9

BERE Regis were sensationally held to a rare tie as Bournemouth Seconds bowled a dot ball on the final delivery to dramatically claim a share of third place in Division One.

Bere retained their unbeaten home record in this Dorset ‘Thank You NHS’ League mini season after a remarkable finish.

With the scores tied and Bere one run from glory, Dave Griffiths played and missed to hand Bournemouth an unlikely draw.

Notions of a super-over were extinguished by the umpires, who elected to preserve the tie.

Bere captain Brian Keegan won the toss and elected to field on a damp surface.

Opening bowlers Simon Proffitt (3-29) and Rich Payne (1-32) worked in tandem to reduce Bournemouth to 16-2.

Andy Hayward (21) and Surang Urankar (22) scrapped with captain Jonny Coombs (60) to steadily build the visitors’ score on a difficult pitch.

Coombs passed 50 and eventually succumbed to Proffitt having hit six boundaries, while skipper Keegan claimed two run outs as Bere were set 165 for victory.

Bere were troubled early in their chase as only Proffitt (13) and Rob Murphy (12) reached double figures, the home side slumping to 62-4 as Bournemouth’s Matt King (3-21) struck twice.

With Bournemouth conceding a mammoth 42 extras, adding to a firebrand innings from Tim Goodhew (49) which contained six fours and a maximum, Bere were thrust into the driving seat.

When he perished agonisingly short of a 50 and victory, young Tom Swain (12) played superbly in support of Griffiths (12no).

As the tension ramped up, the youngster was then run out and, with Griffiths swishing at air on the last ball, Sean Walbridge was run out attempting to dash through for a single bye, tying the teams in a nail-biting finale.

“We should’ve won,” a rueful Keegan told Echosport.

“We needed one run and unfortunately Dave played and missed and Sean got run out attempting the single.

“It was really close, we just couldn’t edge over the line. It was probably a fair result but just annoying getting that close and not being able to inch over that line.”

Keegan reserved praise for 14-year-old Swain. He said: “To say he batted well was the understatement of the century.

“He hit a couple of lovely cover drives, but it was also the maturity he showed in his innings.

“He got run out for 12 – it doesn’t sound like he scored a lot – but in the context and pressure situation he went into it bodes very well for him in the future.”

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830999

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil