THEY don't come much more exciting than a tied match, which is why both sets of players and specatators were chewing their finger nails at Stockport on Sunday.

Radcliffe had knocked up 168 for 6 in their 47 overs before their hosts kept pace with the clock in their pursuit of victory.

But with bowlers Steve Dearden and John Nuttall getting the better of everyone other than Arshad, there was a fairly regular procession of players returning to the pavilion.

A stand of 89 for the seventh wicket was the stumbling block for Radcliffe but when Sherlock (17) fell to Nuttall with the score on 150, the excitement could be cut with a knife.

The weight on the shoulders of professional Arshad was immense and when he was caught behind off Nuttall for 98, it was 161 for 9, a triumph for Radcliffe and heart-stopping stuff.

Pazeer and Middleton patiently scratched their way towards the target with the latter running a single to put the scores level, only to be caught behind by MacAuley off Nuttall's first delivery of the 42nd over. Nuttall finished with 5 for 54 and Dearden with 5 for 73, clearly the best bowlers on a cloudy day.

Having won the toss Radcliffe took first strike and at 28 for 2 might have been regretting the decision, but Dearden (52) and Graham Simpson (62) ended the mini-crisis and a solid 25 from David Jones helped the visitors to their 168 for 6 and set up that thrilling finale.

Rain reared its ugly head to ruin the local 'derby' between Unsworth and Stand with the match poised to provide an interesting conclusion.

Visitors Stand elected to take first strike and struggled to 145 for 7 off their 48 overs, a target well within reach of their hosts under normal conditions.

But as the rain arrived to frustrate the players for the umpteenth time this summer, Unsworth stood at 18 for 2 when the game was finally abandoned shortly after seven o'clock.

When Stand won the toss, an opening stand of 31 was rapidly undone when professional Mark Warden quickly followed Andy Roberts (18) into the pavilion without troubling the scorers but fears of a collapse were averted.

Phil Ramsbottom (35) and Jonathan Seedle (60), took Stand to 106 before being parted and skipper Seedle played the major role as the visitors found Unsworth professional Ramanayake in top form.

The Sri Lankan ended the day with 5 for 56 off 20 overs and the way was open for an Unsworth run chase until the weather stepped in to spoil the fun.

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