Persistent rain caused a delay of one hour to the start and, on losing the toss, Town were asked to bat first.

The wicket, having been covered for 24 hours, was responsive to seam bowling and Town found difficulty in scoring and surviving and slipped to 28 for 4 after 18 overs with McClannan taking all the wickets.

Filson & Wijesekera arrested the slide, adding 35 for the 5th wicket. Filson and Roberts then put together a match-saving stand of 64 before Filson fell for a well-crafted 43 and Roberts finally falling for 52, enabling Town to post a target of 157 off 57 overs.

Town’s bowlers started brightly, beating the bat regularly but wickets were elusive and at the start of the last 20 overs, Parkfield were 21 for the loss of one wicket after 12 overs and a boring draw seemed likely.

However, Joe Payne had other ideas and, returning for his second spell, took 2 wickets in his first over and 3 more wickets in the next four; a total of 5 wickets for 10 runs in 5 overs.

With Meadows chipping in with two quick wickets, Parkfield were 90 for 9 with Town requiring one wicket in the final over for a win. However, the umpires, having miscalculated, removed the bails; only for the scorers to tell them there was one over left.

A chaotic scene then developed with one umpire accepting the scorers’ decision and staying in the middle; while the other, sure of his infallibility, marched off with the stumps. Both umpires then called a halt to proceedings, claiming time had been called.

The laws of cricket state that if an error has been made, the players must be recalled and the match completed.

Town took six points from the game meant they slipped to second place in the league by one point.

Payne achieved a season’s best bowling performance, taking 5 wickets for 18 runs off 10 overs.

The match ball sponsor was Pilks Recs ARLFC.