Fay secures a tie

Brondesbury 228-9 dec.

Teddington 228

Grolsch Middlesex County League Division One

Ricky Fay was the hero of Brondesbury's first league tie in 423 games, spanning 28 years. He followed a magnificent 71 not out, his highest league score, with an excellent final over that denied Teddington victory. With the last ball, a beauty, he forced last man Ballinger to glove the ball to wicketkeeper John Munro, who held the catch to ensure Brondesbury a share of the spoils.

After losing the toss for the seventh time in nine league matches, Brondesbury were put in on an excellent Harman Drive wicket.

Batting with real purpose initially, the champions reached 87-1 off 18 overs. However, the dismissal of Ian Osborne (52) led to a pre-lunch slump to 114-5 (Ian Kidd 30, Hood 21).

Then Fay produced his brilliant innings, a mixture of aggression and common sense, to snatch the initiative away from the Teddington attack, hitting four sixes and seven fours off just 70 balls. He was well supported by Mark Lowrey(20) and Munro, who helped him add 35 crucial runs in a last-wicket stand before the declaration.

Teddington, showing why they are one of the strongest teams in the country, were 58-1 (P Morgan 39) at tea.

The final session of the match proved to be a real thriller. Initially Teddington were in charge through splendid knocks from Middlesex pro Jamie Dalrymple (49) and Adam Tarrant (82). However, Brondesbury fought back through a fine spell from skipper Rob Nelson (4-65, off 21 overs).

At 160-7, the game seemed to be Brondesbury's, but a 45-run partnership swung the game back to Teddington.

At 217-8, with two overs left, the game was in the balance. However, boundaries of the first two balls of the penultimate over by Nelson seemed to have tipped the scales Teddington's way, only for Nelson to trap Tarrant lbw.

With Teddington 225-9, needing four runs, Fay, Brondesbury's star of the year, thwarted them.

On Sunday Brondesbury, holders of the Evening Standard Cup, took a step towards a return to The Oval, with an easy eight-wicket win over Malden Wanderers, winners in 1995.

After Wanderers were dismissed for 151 (Worrall 3-10, Nelson 3-27), Brondesbury eased thmeselves to victory at 152-2 (Paul Goodison 67 no, Kidd 35).