LIGHTNING struck twice in the Bolton Association on Sunday when both the first and second teams of Elton and Edgworth tied.

Elton hosted the Edgworth first XI, reaching the visitors’ target of 171-8 with the loss of seven wickets in a reduced 35-over game.

At Edgworth, the Elton second XI were put in to bat and reached 179-5 before the home side equalled their total with the loss of eight wickets. In both matches, the chasing team needed two off the final ball, but could only secure a single.

Bolton Association president John Charlson said: “It was an amazing thing to happen.

“If you get two ties in a season it’s a lot – to get two ties on the same day in the corresponding first and second-team matches is unheard of.

“It’s an incredible occurrence.”

Alan Roughley was the hero for the Elton first XI, coming to the crease with three balls remaining and scoring three from the final two balls to force the draw.

Edgworth had spread the runs throughout the team, Nick Kernick top-scoring with 30 not out, while Chris Reid did the damage with the ball for Elton, taking 5-93.

Opener Mark Gowers and Reid, who came in at three, led the Elton charge, rattling the scoring along with quickfire scores of 36 and 34, respectively.

Their reply stalled in the middle of the innings, with Edgworth pro Liam Watkinson (4-88) and his dad Mike (3-63) sharing the wickets before Roughley came on for his final-over cameo.

The captains of both sides were equally dumbstruck at stumps when they found out that their second teams had also tied.

John Ashworth, Elton captain, said: “It’s incredible. Our last tie was against Adlington two or three years ago and I don’t think I have tied more than three games in more than 20 seasons playing in the league.

“To have two on the same day with the same clubs is just bizarre.”

Simon Lord, captain of Edgworth, said: “The odds of it happening must be astronomical.”

While Wisden could not confirm if this was a cricketing first, a spokesman for the almanac said it was certainly a candidate for the next publication’s Chronicle feature.