QUALITY ‘death’ bowling from Ledbury’s Josh Evans denied Knighton victory at the end of a dramatic game in Division Two of the Marches League.

The home side needed ten runs from the final over to claim the win but had to settle for a tie with both sides scoring 150.

Knighton skipper Robbie James admitted it was an extraordinary end to a thrilling match.

“We knew we needed ten to win off the final over and Dan Pullen hit the second ball for six,” he said. “But Josh Evans bowled really well and it went to the final ball when we needed two to win and only managed to get a single.

“It was a cracking game which had everything including one of the most exciting finishes I can remember.

“It would have been good to get the win but at least we are out of the bottom two which is a good feeling especially as we play [fellow strugglers] Eastnor on Saturday.”

James won the toss and put the visitors into bat, a decision that paid off as Jack Brain and Dan Pullen ripped through the top order.

Brain took 2-33 from his 12 overs while Pullen 5-38 from his dozen. Andrew Hipkiss and Richard Grosvenor took the others.

“Everyone bowled well but Dan was absolutely brilliant,” James added. “He didn’t try to bowl too fast and just kept them straight and on a length, tempting the batsmen to get themselves out. It worked and he ended up with five and a couple of catches.”

Tom Wills (30) was the only one of the top order to make runs and it looked as though Ledbury would struggle to make three figures. But the arrival of skipper Paul Allen (25) and Simon Richie (25) stopped the rot with the visitors finally being dismissed in the 44th over.

The Knighton reply looked like going a similar way with opener Matt James staying put as those around him lost their wickets.

That all changed when brother Robbie came to the crease and the pair set about reeling in the Ledbury total.

After being in trouble at 62-4, the pair took the score to 135 before the brothers fell in quick succession – Matt for 61 and Robbie for 52.

“It wasn’t easy out there as they bowled really well,” the skipper added. “We kept talking to each other, urging each other on as we knew we needed to put some runs on the board to have a chance.

“Matt was bowled first and when I was trapped lbw we needed another 16 runs. But it’s hard for new batsmen coming in at that stage because the pressure is on.”

James acknowledges he now has a few decisions to make going into the weekend’s match at home to Eastnor with regular opener Adam Brownhill back in the side along with Richard Smith.

“It means I’ll have a selection headache but that’s a nice headache to have at this point in the season,” he admitted.