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Vic Country and England play out thriller in Benalla

Vic Country captain Keith Jansz stands alongside England Captain Jason Caunt before the start of the match at Benalla Gardens Oval. Photos: Karl Phillipson. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Brisbane in 1960 and Madras, 1986, share a special place in cricket folklore as the only two tied Tests in the long and storied history of the game.

Joe Solomon’s shy at the stumps at the Gabba for a last ball run-out created history as the first tied Test in 84 years of Test cricket, before Greg Matthews trapped Maninder Singh in front LBW in Madras 26 years later, the only other time a Test has finished in a tie.

Nineteen wickets fell on the day. Photo by Karl Phillipson

There’s a new iconic wicket to add to the list, with Benalla Gardens Oval witnessing a final-ball dismissal on Sunday as England’s Nigel Moore sent down the last delivery of the match with the scores tied.

It wasn’t quite your Brisbane or Madras Test, however.

Or a Test either, for that matter.

The English bowlers did well to defend a total of 129. Photo by Karl Phillipson

England’s over-60 cricket side was in Benalla on Sunday to take on a Victoria Country Veterans representative side in a one-day tour match, as the visitors make their way around Australia for the ‘Grey Ashes’, a series of five one-day games against Australia’s over-60 side.

It was a damp outfield given the deluge that drenched Benalla on Saturday. Photo by Karl Phillipson

The visitors arrived at Gardens Oval having lost the first two ‘Grey Ashes’ contests against the Australian team, but had enjoyed success in tour matches against the VCA President’s XI and the Victorian Veterans.

Vic Country players celebrate a wicket. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Vic Country was out to put a stop to that streak, and given the soggy outfield due to the deluge that drenched Benalla on Saturday, Vic Country skipper Keith Jansz sent England in to bat after winning the toss.

It was a solid start for Vic Country with the ball, as Wayne Hinchcliffe (1-19) removed England opener Nick Gaywood (13) in just the sixth over, although fellow opener Paul Radage and replacement Mel Hussain dug in to provide some resistance.

England skipper Jason Caunt flashes a drive. Photo by Karl Phillipson

It would be the skipper Jansz (1-18) that broke through in the 19th over to remove Radage for 32, stumped by keeper Shane Noonan, while new batsman Mark Eames was trudging back to the sheds two overs later after being run out, joined shortly after by Hussain (23), who was bowled by Peter Kemp.

Nigel Moore chases a ball in the field. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Kemp starred for Vic Country, claiming two wickets in the 24th over, as the floodgates opened for Australia.

With the top order out of the way, Kemp roared through the tail, helped by Rino Metlikovec (1-5) and Trevor Sing (1-20), as he claimed 5-18 to have England all out for just 129 off 33.5 overs.

The English batsmen were well contained by the Vic Country bowlers. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Steve Aston was the only player able to avoid the onslaught, with the number five finishing not out on 26.

With 130 set for victory, Vic Country’s innings got off to a horror start, with vice-captain David Howes removed by Kevin Watson for just one run in the fourth over.

English supporters line the fence at Benalla Gardens Oval. Photo by Karl Phillipson

It would be slowing going from there for Vic Country, as Jansz (39) provided strong resistance, and while the scoreboard was constantly ticking over, wickets were just as consistently falling.

After 44 overs Vic Country found itself at 7-126 with Rino Metlikovec and Shane Noonan at the crease, needing three runs to win with just six balls remaining.

Vic Country was on song in the field. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Under immense pressure, Nigel Moore was thrown the ball for England, and what unfolded next was pure chaos.

Bowling to Metlikovec, Moore’s first ball was well bowled, with Vic Country unable to score.

Vic Country players rejoice at another wicket. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Ball two saw Metlikovec attempt to hoist one off middle and leg over midwicket, but he mistimed it and was caught by Kevin Watson, leaving Vic Country at 8-126 with four balls remaining.

Greg Bailey was the next man in, and Moore kept him on strike with a dot ball from the third delivery of the over.

The two sides couldn’t be split after 45 overs each. Photo by Karl Phillipson

He was off the mark on the fourth, however, hitting a single to mid-off to bring Shane Noonan on strike, and leaving Vic Country two runs from victory with two balls remaining.

Spectators watch on during the Vic Country run chase. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Moore steamed in to bowl ball number five, and was met with a thunderous on-drive from Noonan, which looked for all money to be headed to the rope, only for a flying Jim Phillips in the field to get a fingertip on the ball and slow it down, saving a boundary and keeping Vic Country to just a single.

The two sides shake hands after a nail-biting contest. Photo by Karl Phillipson

It all came down to the final ball, with Vic Country at 8-129 needing just one run to edge ahead and take the contest, and England needing a dot ball or a wicket to tie the match.

Moore ran in to bowl to Bailey, who was unable to make contact with the ball and was found short of his crease, as wicketkeeper Simon Routh whipped the bails off in one smooth motion to stump him, leaving Vic Country stranded at 9-129 and ending the game in a tie.

England wicketkeeper Simon Routh clutches a stump after claiming a wicket. Photo by Karl Phillipson

It was a stunning end to the contest, with Moore the hero for England, finishing with figures of 3-26.

England will now travel to Adelaide to take on the SAVCA Invitational XI on Wednesday, before suiting up for the third match in the ‘Grey Ashes’ against Australia at Tanunda Oval in the Barossa Valley on Friday.

The Vic Country side sits ready and waiting to head out to the middle. Photo by Karl Phillipson