THIS first-ever league meeting between the respective first XIs of Cirencester and Poulton ended in a tie amid controversy and drama.

Cirencester, having produced some of their poorest cricket of the season, will look at this as a wake-up call; Poulton, having been in such a strong position, will surely rue this lost opportunity.

After the heavy rains of Friday in was no surprise when Poulton’s captain Will Bathurst, in winning the toss, inserted Cirencester on a wicket which offered his bowlers plenty.

Ciren made a reasonable start until last week’s hero Andy Cooper fell at 35-1.

Rich Hudson and Nick Rutter were made to toil against some disciplined bowling from Wright and Khan before falling in successive overs with Ciren on 74-3.

In recent weeks, Cirencester’s middle order have been able to boss the bowling but not this time as Poulton kept a tight rein on scoring opportunities. It was only Williams, in scoring a fluent 47, who regularly found the boundary.

Having worked themselves to 147-4, the innings then imploded in spectacular fashion. James (4-24) and Young (3-5), bowling full and straight to a well-set field, induced total panic as the last six wickets crashed for just seven runs.

In reply, a first-over wicket from Moore was just the start Cirencester needed. However, the prolific Higginson and hard-hitting Denning soon dispatched a number of poor balls until a three-wicket burst from Waters and one from Williams reduced Poulton to 37-5.

The wicket had by this time lost its early demons and this allowed the seasoned James and youngster Groombridge to build a partnership that should have sealed the match for Poulton.

Both defended stoutly, took every scoring opportunity and looked at ease.

James, who should have been caught at midwicket early in his innings, went on to pass 50 and lead his side well past the 100 mark with plenty of overs left.

It was to be Fullalove who again made the vital breakthroughs and then Rich Hudson caught James for 52.

With only a few runs required, Poulton began to wobble.

Reynolds bowled Bathurst only for the appointed umpire to point out a fielding restriction no-ball. In any other situation this would have been shrugged off, but at such a crucial point of the match it heightened an already charged atmosphere.

A clatter of wickets followed, then it was all down to the last ball of the last over, in which Armitage was run out to leave the game tied.

Cirencester were outplayed for much of the afternoon, but their refusal to give in won them a tie.

Most watching thought it a game to remember; for a number of the hosts, it will be a game they will want to forget.

* Poulton take on Cirencester again this Saturday 4th July 2009 - play starts at 2pm