WHEN Michael Hard-iman limped to the crease with a runner during the final over of last Satu-rday's Cotswold Hills League game, the More-ton batsman had no idea of the welcome that awaited him.

The Batsford Road side appeared on the brink of victory after Matt Gillett's 87 had brought them within two runs of overhauling Overbury's total of 230.

However, Gillett's departure after Moreton had lost their first three wickets for 20 runs, left the Premier Division match in the balance.

Stand-in skipper Keith Hurrell was on strike as Ali Munro prepared to bowl the last six balls and he only lasted one to leave the chasers still two runs short of their target with the last pair at the wicket.

Hardiman, handicapped by an injured foot, failed to score off his opening four balls and, with one ball left, the odds looked stacked against the hosts.

The gallant No 11 got bat to ball and his runner and fellow batter completed a single to tie the match - or so they thought!

That was until Munro, spotting that Hardiman had left his ground, threw down the wickets at the non-striker's end. That appeal was rejected by the umpire.

However, Munro then threw down the stumps at the other end as Hardiman trudged off the field and the umpire, this time, gave him out!

"The actual Laws of the game state that we did lose the match," captain Hurrell admitted. "The decision of the umpire was correct but, in sporting terms, I felt that the manner of dismissal was totally out of context with what had gone on before in what had been an excellent game of cricket."

The umpires took almost half-an-hour to reach their final verdict - something else that didn't please Hurrell.

"If there was any doubt at the time - and the umpires admitted that there was - then that should have gone the way of the batting side," Hurrell added.

"It then took them nearly half-an-hour to reach a conclusion during which time I gave the Overbury captain the option to withdraw the appeal but he refused!"