Michael Carson struck a magnificent 178 as Binfield Cricket Club's 2nd XI drew with Finchampstead CC 3rd XI at Binfield on Saturday 11 July in Thames Valley Cricket League Division 3A, Binfield declaring on 311 for 3 before Thomas Williams's 4 for 68 and Rob Pigden's 3 for 80 left the visitors clinging on at 288 for 9 - one wicket, and 24 runs, from a result either way.

My goodness me, what an innings. Michael Carson batted for the best part of the Binfield innings and simply never stopped finding the middle of the bat, and by the time he was run out for 178 the afternoon already belonged to him. Harry Maxfield lent a polished 52 alongside him and captain Wynand Lamprecht chipped in a brisk 37, and when the declaration came at 311 for 3 from 48 overs, with Rhys Hunt unbeaten on 21, Binfield had set Finchampstead the most sporting of challenges: 312 to win, 52 overs to get them, and every result still on the table.

Finchampstead, to their great credit, went for it. Freddie Bishop played quite beautifully for 86 and Aidan Muir's 36 kept the chase breathing, and with the worm graph showing the two innings tracking one another almost run for run deep into the evening, this was that rarest and best of things - a declaration game with all four results live in the final hour. Rob Pigden struck three times up top for 3 for 80, Dan Humphrey pouching two of them - one an outstanding slip catch that simply must be seen, and the clip is waiting for you just below - and it was Thomas Williams who dragged Binfield back into it, four wickets for 68 from his fifteen overs plus a run out, as the visitors slipped from a promising platform to nine down with the runs still 24 away.

Slip Screamer! Dan Humphrey's Must-Watch Catch

Click to watch Dan Humphrey's outstanding slip catch - opens the club's full-match stream at the moment itself · Binfield Cricket Club on YouTube

Lewis O'Donoghue's defiant 34 and an unbeaten 26 from Thomas Allen very nearly stole it at the end, but the last pair held firm through the closing overs - umpire Paul Morgan presiding over a splendid day's cricket - and the book was closed at 288 for 9. A draw, then, but nobody at Binfield on Saturday will remember it as a dull one.

Thomas Williams · 4-68

The 16 points keep the 2nd XI sixth in Division 3A on 145. Elsewhere in the division Boyne Hill pinched a one-wicket thriller against Reading, Bracknell United won by four wickets at Fleet, Hurst Rangers beat Falkland by 96 runs and Royal Ascot saw off Harpsden by six wickets. The whole afternoon was caught on the club's stream, so do settle in below and watch Carson's 178 from first ball to last - it is well worth your time.