Cricket fans witnessed one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory as Marple CC lost five wickets in the final over, needing just one run to win, and ended up tying the match against Bramhall CC in the Cheshire County Cricket League on Saturday, July 12.
In a gripping 2nd XI clash at the Michael Hibbert Cricket Ground, Marple were cruising towards a comfortable win, chasing Bramhall’s total of 201. With the score at 201/5 in the final over, the equation was simple: one run to win, five wickets in hand. But what followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Josh Patel turned hero for Bramhall, taking four wickets in four balls — a stunning hat-trick followed by an lbw — to suddenly reduce Marple to 201/9. His victims included Andrew Wild, Joel Greasley, Edward Skelton, and Ben Bailey.
With two balls remaining, Marple captain James Hirst walked in as the last batter. He tapped his first ball into the off-side and went for the winning run. But Andy Tatton fielded sharply and threw it to wicketkeeper Ed Gray, who completed a clean run-out of non-striker Greg Marsland to tie the game in unbelievable fashion.
Only four of the five wickets were captured on video — but the footage, which has since gone viral, captures the chaotic, thrilling nature of grassroots cricket at its best.
WATCH:Earlier, Bramhall’s 201 was built around a gritty 57 from skipper Rishi Kannah. Marple looked in control during their chase thanks to a 119-run stand between Will Darby (73) and James Crisall (54), but Patel’s final over heroics turned the game on its head.
The tie earned both teams eight points, along with additional batting and bowling bonus points.
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