AVONCROFT suffered the agony of coming within an over of obtaining a winning draw against Himbleton in Worcestershire County League Division Three when rain arrived to ruin matters.
Play had to be abandoned with Avoncroft situated on 78 for four when chasing down a Himbleton total of 198 all out.
Avoncroft had completed 19 overs of their innings by that stage.
Just one more over and two further runs would have given them the winning draw and three extra bonus points.
Avoncroft chairman Rod Braithwaite admitted: "The umpires were right to bring the players off when they did. It fact I'm surprised we didn't come off earlier. It was just a shame we couldn't have got one more over, so instead the match goes down as an abandoned game."
Strike bowler John Hunter, a new recruit from Colwall, stole the show for Avoncroftby taking eight for 42.
Rod Braithwaite added: "John was running right through the side but had completed 17 overs, the maximum you are allowed to bowl. When he came off Himbleton were in trouble at 100 for eight, but then the last two wickets put on over 90 runs."
Avoncroft travel to lowly Malvern CC on Saturday and can select from a position of strength with Dan Elliott, Alex Brunt and Ben Warwick all back from university.
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