Mohammad Akram emerged as the Essex hero as they scrambled a tie against Kent in a thrilling duel in front of a sweltering Canterbury crowd.
But it was as number 11 batsman that the 29-year-old stole the glory -- even though he faced just three deliveries.
As Muttiah Muralitharan prepared to send down the final over, Essex were still 14 short of their opponents' 254-9.
Aftab Habib took a single from the first delivery and Akram employed the reverse sweep to find the boundary from the next.
Four runs came from the next three deliveries, leaving the county's replacement for Scott Brant on strike for the last ball.
Akram opened his shoulders to send the ball high towards long on, where it dissected two converging fielders before bouncing away over the rope for four.
Another five or six feet and Akram and Essex would have been celebrating a victory which should have been theirs for the taking following an opening partnership of 132 in 22 overs between Andy Flower and Will Jefferson.
That was broken when Jefferson, having contributed 58, was caught low down at backward square leg by David Fulton.
But Flower went on to make exactly 100 from 81 balls before he was stumped attacking spinner James Tredwell.
He struck eight fours and one six while giving a masterful performance on how to score freely without ever taking the slightest risk.
But once he was out, Essex lost their way as six wickets fell in the space of seven overs while 42 runs were added.
Three of those wickets came in the 44th over sent down by Martin Saggers, but along came Akram to save the day.
Certainly his efforts with the bat will linger longer in the memory than his deeds with the ball. He picked up one success during a nine-over spell costing 52 but more annoyingly, he conceded three wides and six no balls.
Not that he was the only sinner; Tony Palladino, Graham Napier and Andy Clarke also lacked discipline and between them the four seamers conceded 14 wides and as many no balls to Kent's cause.
Kent's innings owed much to Mark Ealham and Geraint Jones, who shared in a stand of 127 in 19 overs for the fifth wicket.
That came to an end in an eventful over from James Middlebrook.
His first three deliveries were despatched for four, four and six but the next saw Ealham pull into the hands of Akram at deep square leg. Jones followed for 58 soon afterwards, Akram again displaying a safe pair of hands at short fine leg.
More on Essex County Cricket Club
Published Monday, August 4, 2003
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