Billericay 2nd 262-8 dec

Gidea Park and Romford 2nd 243-7

(match drawn)

There was more than a hint of deja vu about this match as Billericay's Mark Harmer and Gidea Park's Derek Allen repeated last season's feats of scoring centuries.

The only difference this time was that home side Gidea Park just failed to make a big enough total for victory, the game ending in a close and high-scoring draw.

Billericay were put into bat and Harmer was in imperious form as he made 130 from his opening position. His century came in 128 minutes and included 19 boundaries.

He was well supported by Richard Walford (21) as the pair put on 48 for the first wicket and Scott Noble (23) 79 for the third.

However, there were also a couple of failures and at 149-5 a testing total appeared unlikely.

However, Adam Samouelle joined Harmer and the pair embarked on a partnership that realised 69 runs in quick time.

Tiredness finally got the better of Harmer, who was stumped off Jenner (3-41) and Samouelle took up the lead tole.

Jon Butler proved an important foil as his determined running pressurised the fielders and mistakes resulted. Billericay declared once Samouelle reached a deserved half-century.

Allen and Russell Collard set Gidea Park on the victory trail and they made a good fist of getting the 170 they needed from the last 20 overs once Collard had gone to Stuart Hynes for 61.

Allen was finally out for 115 and, although Gidea Park kept up the run chase, Butler (2-31) and Steve Ash (2-79) ensued that this thriller between two well-matched sides ended with honours even.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.