Walwin holds his nerve to secure epic win for Charfield (From Gazette Series)

Walwin holds his nerve to secure epic win for Charfield

10:04am Friday 4th August 2006 in Sport By Gazette reporter

3D Gloucestershire County League 1st XI Division Two Charfield (198-9) beat Haresfield (197ao) by one wicket.

CHARFIELD took an epic win in the evening gloom to keep the pressure up on the Division Two pacesetters.

The home side's final three batsmen put on 40 runs to win the match in the final over in dreadful conditions.

Batting first, Haresfield openers Bray and Smith tore into the normally reliable Charfield bowlers.

They raced to 75 from only 12 overs before the guile of Nick Bennett accounted for Bray (37).

Fourteen runs later, Bennett struck again removing Jones for just two.

Bennett's work was not finished though and a superb caught and bowled dismissed the dangerous Smith (39) to bring an abrupt halt to Haresfield's momentum.

Vince Taylor struck in his third over to leave Haresfield 100-4 and then tightened the stranglehold, bowling his next six overs for one run, as Charfield wrestled back control of the game.

An obstinate innings characterised by patience from Smith (62) ensured Haresfield did not fold completely but with Taylor striking twice more, skipper Mike Colborn taking a wicket, Morgan two more and a good run out by Brown, Haresfield were all out for a decent 197 but crucially conceded one of their overs to Charfield.

The hosts' reply started promisingly as Morgan and Davies seemed comfortable but with Morgan given out lbw and number three Hampton clean bowled the next delivery this quickly changed leaving Charfield 15-2.

Injudicious shot selection from Davies (17) meant Charfield lost their third wicket with the score on 37.

The new partnership of Greaves and Taylor prospered to ensure Charfield kept up with the required run rate until a rain break interrupted the flow and Greaves was dismissed shortly afterwards.

Another quick wicket left Charfield 81-5 and struggling. This became 101-6 with Taylor bowled for a crucial 34.

A captain's knock from Colborn again lifted Charfield.

Sharing an excellent partnership with Turner, Colborn was dismissed for 36 with the score on 149 but another quick wicket left Charfield wobbling at 158-8.

Turner and Walwin kept their cool though and kept Charfield in the hunt until an unfortunate run out accounted for Turner (20).

By now it was practically pitch black and drizzling again, so Charfield's last pair of Walwin and Gannon did well to see the ball let alone hit it.

But hit it they did, needing another 18 runs for victory.

They coolly defended the better balls and dispatched the lesser balls to take Charfield to within an inch of an excellent victory.

In the 46th over, Gannon scored the winning runs to leave Charfield elated, Walwin's critical 26 not out, under pressure, deservedly earning him the man of the match award.

Charfield are on the road tomorrow, travelling to the league's bottom side Shurdington for another crucial clash in their bid to challenge for a third successive promotion.