Tauqeer Hussain starred with bat and ball as Kidlington came so near to pulling off a notable victory over Gerrards Cross in a dramatic Home Counties League Division 2 West match on Saturday.

Despite having seven balls at the visitors last pair, Kidlington could not achieve the win, although the visitors finished only 13 runs short of victory themselves.

Having been inserted, Kidlington slumped to 28-4 as Alan Duncan made inroads into their top order.

Shailesh Prabhu and Tauqeer Hussain rescued Kidlington, who lunched at 117 -5 The best was yet to come as Nawaz Ali and Tauqeer added 129 for the sixth wicket Despite the loss of Nawaz for 29, Tauqeer Hussainm was only slowed by his desire to make a three-figure score and this looked to have failed as the tenth wicket fell with him high and dry on 99 Fortunately, both scorers registered an error which gave the Kidlington's overseas player 102 as Kidlington finished on 254.

The Gerrards Cross reply was soon in tatters as Mali Richards ripped out the first three for 46 before Duncan joined Ed Waugh as they grafted their way back into the game.

Duncan and David Cranfield-Thompson (60 not out) took them to 213-4 and on course for victory.

Then Duncan, who had been deprived of the strike while in the nineties, was bowled for 97 by Tauqeer Hussain, who also knocked over the next two batsmen.

Cranfield-Thompson then watched on helplessly as Richards claimed two wickets, but the visitors negoitiated the last seven balls for a draw.