HAYDOCK had to settle for a share of the spoils in a dramatic tied game with league leaders Tarleton on Saturday.

The visitors won the toss abd elected for first use of the damp wicket.

The Haydock bowlers struggled to make any real impact into the Tarleton order but were at least reasonsably containing and never really let the Tarleton side get any real head of steam up despite having plenty wickets in the bank.

The Tarleton team also used their full quota of 50 overs to finish on 197-3, J Dyson reaching his 100 in the 46th over before T Derbyshire took a fine running catch to dismiss him.

How Dave Burrows must have been cursing the fact he dropped a relatively simple chance off him when he had made only 21.

Andy Bentham (1-33) and the luckless Dave Burrows (2-73) were the only wicket takers but excellent spells from youngster Nicky Tinsley and Aussie Adrian Barr were crucial in restricting Tarleton to under 200.

Haydock's batsmen were expecting to receive around 35 overs to go for the target and it came as a surprise to the Tarleton boys that Haydock went for it straight afrom the off.

Despite the loss of D Matthews in the first over for 0, R Burke (47), A Barr (54) and W Hurst (41) helped to get Haydock right up there and when the ninth wicket fell the scores were tied on 197 each it left last man Burrows two balls to get the single required for Haydock to complete a memorable victory. But all he managed to do was chip the ball straight into the hands of mid-on and ensured both teams received a share of the points in this pulsating encounter.

The reverse fixture at Tarleton saw an equally enthralling nail biter as Tarleton's Second XI managed what looked like a meagre 113-9 from 50 overs with the returning Martin Clarke taking 5-42 from 19 overs.

Other promising youngsters P Roberts and P Johnston claimed 2-12 and 2-14 .

Haydock's batsmen never really mastered the difficult conditions but two fine innings from big hitting G Bourhill (28) and the evergreen Ste Webster 25 saw Haydock make it with one wicket to spare.

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