Glamorgan Dragons and Kent Spitfires in a thrilling tie

On a day when rain washed out most of the Norwich Union League programme, Glamorgan Dragons and Kent Spitfires managed to at least get in a 23 overs-a-side match in Cardiff and, furthermore, a thrilling encounter ended in a tie. James Tredwell was run out off the last ball going for the second that would have given the Spitfires victory after James Golding had managed the one run that brought the scores level.

The Spitfires looked as if they would be performing a victory role going into the last over needing 6 to win with four wickets in hand. That was before Adrian Dale shot them down in flames by taking two wickets in three balls to leave them needing two runs off the last. They got one to Robert Croft at long-off, but his throw to the bowler's end was straight and true and the first tie of the season had been achieved.

It was not until 4 o'clock that play got under way with Matthew Fleming winning the toss for the Spitfires and deciding to invite the Dragons to take first use of the pitch. When the fall of wickets do not really matter in as much that a side is unlikely to be bowled out in such a short span of overs, the batsmen have license to play expansive strokes and that is exactly what was seen in the first innings.

Croft set the tone, taking 23 from 13 balls, while his opening partner, David Hemp, reached 39 from 37 balls. Just to illustrate that it is unnecessary to smash everything to reach a decent scoring rate, there were only two fours and a single six in Hemp's innings. Nevertheless, 33 runs were scored in the first three overs.

Darren Thomas ensured that the closing overs would not go to waste either, finishing on 28 not out, and the Dragons would have no doubt been pleased with a batting performance that set Kent nearly seven an over if they were going to be successful.

The Spitfires' innings took off rather more slowly than that of the home side as Fleming and Robert Key put on 32 for the first wicket in six overs. It was not until Andrew Symonds joined Key in a third wicket partnership that produced 50 runs at better than a run a ball that things really started moving.

Symonds made 32 from 21 balls with just one four and a towering six over mid-wicket before Thomas returned to the attack to have him caught at long-on. That left the onus on Key, who reached his fifty but fell three balls later, lbw to Croft.

Mark Ealham is renowned for his one-day abilities and did not disappoint with 24 from 25 balls until he became the second of Dale's wickets in the final over, setting the scene for the drama of the final ball.