Replay beckons as final thriller is tied

BOUNDARY BID: Uppermill’s Nathan Boote is in full flow.

CRICKET:

A GRIPPING Tanner Cup final ended in virtual darkness as Moorside and Uppermill played out a tie at Turf Pit Lane last night.

A replay will be needed for only the second time in the knock-out competition’s 88-year history.

A contest which lasted almost eight hours courtesy of two breaks for rain went to the very last ball of the Moorside innings: the clock had just begun its journey towards 10pm and the scores were level on 196 when Miles Barnes faced up to Uppermill professional Darren Shadford.

Many of the crowd were already at home, but those peering through the murk saw the ball ricochet off the number nine batsman’s pads to Pete Roberts standing close in on the off-side.

Having instinctively set off for a run, Barnes was out of his crease when wicketkeeper Alex Griffiths caught the fielder’s return throw and removed the bails.

Although Moorside had lost one less wicket than Uppermill – the visitors were bowled out – such a result means both teams must try again, probably on August 18 at Uppermill.

The dramatic final swung one way and then the other as the protagonists wrestled to gain the upper hand.

Let's hope the replay is half as good.