Ealing 161 Brondesbury 159-9

Evening Standard Trophy third round

In a nerve-jangling finish, Brondesbury lost to Ealing by two runs in the third round of the Evening Standard Trophy on Sunday.

Ealing were all out for 161 and Brondesbury, on 159-9 (James Hudson 56, Tom Simpson 33) and having lost fewer wickets, needed two runs for victory.

Charlie Sutherland hit out boldly towards long-off, but was caught.

A last-wicket stand of 27 proved extremely significant for Ealing, who had struggled to 134-9 (Lowrey 4-21, Sutherland 3-15).

Saturday's league game at Winchmore Hill saw Brondesbury very close to victory.

But the home side held on grimly for a point at 151-9, with the last pair surviving for eight balls, despite some confident appeals.

After Brondesbury declared at 245-4 (Simpson 56, Justin le Fort 54 no), off 70 overs, the pace of the Bruce brothers James (4-30) and Robert (3-35) had Winchmore Hill deep in trouble at 66-6.

But Frankie Griffith (73 not out) saved the day as Brondesbury took the four run-rate points.

Brondesbury are away to Teddington on Saturday, bidding to end the leaders' nine-match 100 per cent record.

July 9, 2002 17:00