WHATEVER the outcome of Saturday's match between Division Two big hitters Checkley and Ashcombe the sun would not have set on either side's promotion chances according to Andy Carr.

The Checkley skipper said: "Win, lose or draw it would still be early days. We could have come away with 20 points and gone closer to Oulton. Or we could have got beat and stayed second or dropped third. I am not concerned in any way shape or form with our position in the league because there's a hell of a long way to go."

The match finished in controversial fashion when at 8.45pm the umpires deemed the setting sun behind the bowler too dangerous for play to continue. Checkley needed just four runs to win with six overs still remaining, while Ashcombe Park required two further wickets. Ultimately, the draw denied both teams the opportunity to close on leaders Oulton.

Despite the unusual finish the game was a great spectacle as the momentum see-sawed back and forth between both sides.

Checkley won the toss and elected to bowl first and made two early breakthroughs. The pitch looked ideal for picking up runs, but had enough movement to make batting difficult. Fine partnerships followed between Tom Boulton (27) and David Proffitt (35) and then Boulton and Andy Jones (34). At 114-4 Ashcombe were eyeing a large score, but a collapse left them 176 all out. Only Park professional Ahmed Gondal's 51 kept the scoring going.

Iain Carr and professional Justin Granger were the pick of the bowlers with 4-43 and 3-42 respectively.

In reply Checkley started poorly, falling to 32-3. Michael Allen and Iain Carr put on 38 between them, but when Carr and pro Granger fell in quick succession, Checkley were 75-5 and staring at a defeat. In-form John Pickles joined Allen and they put on 40 in good time. Allen departed for a well made 39, but Pickles found another good partner in skipper Andy Carr and the duo turned a losing position into what was potentially a winning one.

John Pickles holed out to a superb catch for a majestic 54 with only seven runs needed. A couple more runs then followed before the umpires pulled the players off with the game ending in a disappointing draw.

Ashcombe Park used only three bowlers throughout the vast majority of the innings and they all bowled beautifully. David Clowes was the pick of the bowlers with 2-29 in 14 overs.

Checkley picked up the winning draw and 11 points with Ashcombe Park collecting eight points. This Saturday Checkley travel to mid-table Betley. The Division Two fixture is a 1.30pm start.