Copdock & Old Ipswichian were involved in an exciting tied match (technically called an equal score draw) at Cambridge Granta, following a thrilling finale at Clare College Sports Ground on Saturday.

Chasing Granta’s total of 288 all out, Copdock finished level on 288 for eight off 57 overs, with Tom Rash playing a captain’s innings without quite managing to force the victory.

Rash had earlier taken the first three wickets to fall in Granta’s innings, having won the toss and elected to field, although opener Douglas Rice (68) and Michael Pepper (72) had put the hosts in the driving seat with a 121-run partnership for the second wicket.

The experienced Andy Northcote stopped the flow of runs, in what was only his second game of the season for Copdock– due to school duties – taking four for 46 to at least give Copdock a fighting chance of reaching their target.

Those chances looked remote, when the Suffolk County opening pair of Jaik Mickleburgh (14) and Martyn Cull (9) were soon back in the pavilion (25 for two).

Sam Webb-Snowling (51) and Jack Beaumont (38) added 86 for the third wicket, but it was the partnership of 103 for the sixth wicket, between Rash (71 not out) and Jed Cawkwell (66) that steered the visitors back on course for a possible victory.

Rash takes up the story of a dramatic finish: “We basically needed 36 off the last three overs, with just two wickets in hand,” explained Copdock’s skipper.

“Stephen Croft had hit a quick six and a four, but it was left to me and young Harry Bailey to try and get those 36 off 18 balls.

- Bury St Edmunds involved in tied match earlier in the summer

“Owen Simonsen, their Australian left-arm spinner, was the most tricky bowler to get away. I managed to score a couple of fours off him, and Harry also got a four off his last ball to leave us needing eight off the last over.

“I scored two from the first ball, but could not get away a yorker with the second. There were then a couple of singles, which left me on strike with five needed for victory.

“I got two off the fifth ball, but couldn’t avoid the fielder with the last, so we had to make do with another two runs for a tie.

“It was an unbelievable game, and to get as close to victory as we did was a good effort. We lost off the last ball to Cambridge on the opening day of the season, so they’ve been two great games.”