Ickleford salvaged what appeared an unlikely draw at the death against North Enfield in the Saracens Herts League Division Three. Despite the terrible weather conditions, with both teams seeing the opportunity to score points over the other sides in the r

Ickleford salvaged what appeared an unlikely draw at the death against North Enfield in the Saracens Herts League Division Three.

Despite the terrible weather conditions, with both teams seeing the opportunity to score points over the other sides in the relegation battle, the game went ahead in the driving rain.

North Enfield won the toss and decided to bowl in a rain-reduced game of 46 to 40 overs.

The decision looked to be backfiring as the Ickleford openers made a bright start, taking the score to 42 from 11 overs before the loss of Sam Giggle for 17.

The wicket started a slide, with three more, including Ian Cousins for 25, falling in quick succession to leave the visitors struggling on 48-4.

Tom Reilly and Duncan Jenner began the rebuilding process, taking the score on to 75 before the skipper departed for 18.

Reilly continued his patient accumulation, taking the score on to 104 before playing on for 34 which was worth at least fifty in decent conditions. Newcomers to the crease found getting a start difficult, with the lower order struggling to 126-9.

It was left to Pete Robinson and colt Joe Lockyer to survive the final four overs - a task they performed with gusto, adding 20 runs, with Lockyer crunching two big sixes in the final over to take the score to 148-9 - a defendable score.

When Reilly struck in the third over with the score on six, the total looked even further away, but some defiant batting, aided by some poor catching, seemed to be reopening the door, when Jenner took his second wicket (2-63) to leave Enfield precariously on 92-4 from 24 overs.

Captain Gary Orton and Steve Gandy were taking the game away from Ickleford when Lockyer removed Gandy, caught by wicketkeeper Richard Brown.

Although Lockyer struck again in his next over, with the score on 139-6 from 35 overs, when Orton was again put down, it seemed as though Enfield were still going to make it home.

However, when a skied chance off the last ball of over 36, was pouched by Dave Pursey, and the batsmen crossed, the new batsman found it impossible to get bat on ball, poking back a Lockyer maiden.

Orton was unable to pierce the field, set back to encourage the single.

Lockyer bowled out to return excellent figures of 2-17 from six overs.

Entering the final over from Reilly, two were needed for victory. With a single taken off the second ball, Reilly made a desperate run out from a suicidal single, leaving Orton on strike.

He still could not get bat on ball, and after swinging and missing at the last ball, Brown sprinted the length of the pitch to run out the non striker, with Orton stranded on 42.