JEEVAN Barhey took two wickets in as many balls to earn Rugby CC a thrilling draw against Leamington 2nds with both teams all out for 131.
Leamington looked set to take an outright victory with the home side one run away from the required total and with two wickets in hand at Arlington Avenue.
However, Barhey took two wickets from as many deliveries in the 45th over to ensure the game ended in a thrilling draw as both teams took 15 points from the fixture.
The result means Rugby sit seventh in the Warwickshire County League Premier Division table.
Rugby won the toss and elected to bat only to lose three wickets in the first five overs of the innings.
Danny De Souza (0), Advay Pophali (7) and Barhey (3) all fell cheaply before Tyrese Karelse (19) and Noah Massey (35) set about rebuilding the innings.
Karelse fell to the bowling of Tom Randle (3-26) while Euan Rixson (1-21) accounted for Massey and Randle returned to bowl Owen Edwards (8) as Rugby slipped to 83-6.
The away side’s lower order dug in with the bat as Alex Watson (18), Harry Gedye (15) and Darshin Solanki (11) all reached double figures.
James Hawkins (3-21) and Yash Gupta (2-12) brought an end to the innings with Rugby all out for 131 in 40.5 overs.
Rugby made the perfect start with the ball in reply as Karelse (2-33) bowled Gupta (2) with the fifth ball of Leamington’s innings.
Fellow opener Seb Bainbridge (74) reached a half-century in a 122-ball knock which included 10 boundaries.
However, Rugby continued to make inroads as Massey (3-24) accounted for Orlando Briggs (0), Matt Payne (2) and Nathan Hooker (1) to leave Leamington in trouble on 32-4.
Bainbridge found support at the crease from Hawkins (27) but only one other home batter reached double figures.
Daanyal Sadiq (2-33) bowled Hawkins and quickly removed Randle (4) while Karelse returned to bowl Freddie Ackerman (0) for a four-ball duck.
Leamington slumped to 95-7 but Bainbridge remained at the crease to push the home side closer to the required total.
Alex Watson (1-24) trapped Jack Hawkes (3) LBW to leave Leamington on 117-8 before Bainbridge and Oscar Reynolds (10 not out) put the home side on the brink of victory.
Heading into the 45th over, Leamington needed a single run to win while Rugby still required two wickets as captain Edwards introduced Barhey into the attack.
And Barhey (2-0) made an immediate impact with the ball as he had Bainbridge caught by Gedye with the scores still tied.
Barhey then trapped Rixson LBW with the very next ball with Leamington all out for 131 in 44.2 overs as the game ended in a tie.
Rugby are next in action against Coventry and North Warwickshire on Saturday, July 25 with play to begin at 12pm(midday) at Webb Ellis Road.
