Shenfield battle to an exciting draw (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Shenfield battle to an exciting draw

12:54pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Local Sport

SHENFIELD went agonisingly close to causing an upset at Castle Park after putting on more than 100 for the last three wickets, but having to settle for a well earned draw at castle park.

With Colchester in third and Shenfield fourth, this was always going to be a close match.

Colchester captain Julien Russell opted to bat first hoping to post close to the 300 mark and apply pressure on Shenfield.

However, Matt Salisbury showed great control over the swinging ball and was simply too fast for Colchester’s top order.

He had Russell caught by Lugg for 12 and then two balls later sent Ahmed’s middle stump flying to leave the home side reeling on 18-2.

Colchester went about rebuilding their innings and Foster easily outscored Blundell, and made his way to 32, before chipping to mid on off the bowling of Arshad Ali.

Shenfield’s spin options of Ali, Sarwar and Lugg did a great job and Sarwar took 3-39, running through the home side’s middle order.

At 132-8, Blundell was starting to score more freely and still there on 70 not out. Fishers held up an end while Blundell passed his century and took Colchester to 200.

He eventually ran out of partners and the innings closed on 217. When Shenfield fell to 11-2, a serious partnership was needed.

But Sydney first grader Dan Jacob looked a class act and when Tom Fulk drove his first two balls on the up for four through cover off Topley, the pair found themselves scoring fluently, taking Shenfield to 90.

But when a ball hit Jacob on the elbow and proceed to take a bail, it was starting to look like Colchester’s day.

At 118-7 Shenfield continued to be positive. Tom Austin played some big shots and the counter attack caught Colchester by surprise. Austin along with Kliber put on 70 before Austin fell for a well built 24.

This left Shenfield requiring 30 runs off the last eight overs with just two wickets in hand.

When Lugg fell for five, Kliber and George Pratt had the small matter of facing a fired up Reece Topley and the offspin of Blundell.

When the last over came about, 12 runs were required. After hitting balls one and four for four, Kliber needed just four off the two remaining balls.

But it didn’t materialise and the match ended in a draw. Kliber finished 56 not out.