Ashford Ladies and Hampstead played out a thrilling draw at Short Lane this Sunday.

Ashford got off to a flying start with Becky Halls and Jenny Tippell both scoring freely, helped by some wayward bowling.

They had put on 74 for the first wicket in only the 14th over when Halls was bowled, and two more wickets fell quickly before Fiona Grant steadied things, with support from Hannah Merchant, Ali McCreedy, Kirsty Hull and Gill Bonham.

The innings also saw a rare appearance by Helen Cook, usually found in the Ashford scorebox, who scored what proved to be a vital run.

Excellent bowling by Jenny Heppell restricted Ashford’s scoring in the second half of the innings, conceding only 15 runs from her six overs.

Hampstead signalled their intent right from the start, with their opener hitting confidently over the Ashford fielders, scoring 47 before she was finally bowled by Jenny Tippell.

Hannah Merchant once again found her line, picking up two wickets, and Tippell and Gill Bonham pegged back the scoring rate.

With three overs to go, Hampstead needed only 19 more to win, with seven wickets in hand, but a sharp caught and bowled by Gill Bonham removed the dangerous Heppell for 30.

The Ashford fielders kept their heads, while the batsmen started to feel the pressure, two wickets falling in the 28th over.

A run out followed a good pick up by Georgie Sutch, and Fiona Grant got a stumping, having taken over the gloves halfway through the innings.

Eight runs were needed from the final over, but Gill Bonham showed her experience, and didn’t give the batsmen any room to hit the ball.

A single off the last tied the scores, with Hannah Merchant making sure there was no chance of a second run.

Ashford 156-8 (Becky Halls 25, Jenny Heppell 6-0-15-3)

Hampstead 156-6 (Jenny D 47, Jenny Tippell 6-0-23-2)