Another last ball thriller at The 'Wood

The Surrey Slam is the tournament that just keeps giving.

After the dramatic tie off the last ball two weeks ago, the lads served up another high octane thriller against the Lingfield Lancers. Again the match came down to the last ball off the final over and this time the Outlaws held off a late assault from the Lingfield Lancers to win the match by one run.

Needing 25 runs to win from the final two overs, skipper Matt Norman bowled the penultimate over for 6 runs. With 18 runs to tie from the final over the Outwood Massif nerves were marginally calmed.

Louis Russell Watts stepped up to bowl the final over. The Lancers Pollard, biffed the first ball for six, leaving 13 needed from five balls. The second ball he hit for a four, the ball falling just short of the deep midwicket boundary, nine needed from four balls. A dot ball was followed by another mahousive six leaving three runs to win from the final two balls. A dot from the penultimate ball meant two runs were required from the final ball to secure a dramatic win, based on fewer wickets lost. Louis held his nerve, a single was scrambled and the Outlaws held on to win by one run.

Earlier the Outlaws had set 161 as the target to beat, with Mark Lane 53no and Michael Stephen 31. Ashley Middelton was out for 17 as the early innings impetus rather fell away, barely making par on the Outwood ground. Maybe the most crucial run of the evening? The 'bye' run from the final ball by Dru Tunstall and Mark.

If the Outlaws were to win, then the bowlers would have to be on the money from the off. Marcus Malley (4-0-19-3) and Will Blease (4-0-26-1) were the pick of the bowlers, with everyone combining to keep the run rate at 8-an-over throughout the Lancers innings. Fielding was sharp and as it turned out, the boundary balls that were intercepted by some fantastic athleticism were crucial to keeping the pressure on the Lancers batting.

In the end 161 was just enough for the Outlaws to maintain their 100% record in the competition so far. Next up, the Hackers from Horely, away on Friday 14 August from 5.45pm