There was a dramatic and controversial end to a tie in a Kent League cricket match on Saturday.

It finished 10 points apiece between Sandwich Town 2nds and their second-placed Division 4 hosts High Halstow 1sts as both teams ended up 324 all out.

But the real drama came in the conclusion of Sandwich’s run-chase.

Having slipped from 300-5 to 319-9, High Halstow felt they had earned victory when they appealed for a catch by wicketkeeper Ashley Church from captain Christopher Maurice’s bowling off the fourth bowl of the penultimate over - only for the umpires to dismiss home appeals.

That led to a furious reaction from Maurice and Church. Video footage showed a confrontation between Maurice and batsman Alex Laslett, who was unbeaten on 83.

The umpires then came together and Sandwich were awarded five penalty runs for Maurice’s reaction following a delay of more than six minutes.

But that wasn’t the end of the drama.

With Sandwich now needing one run to win, Maurice “Mankaded” No.11 Chris Smith to secure a tie in highly controversial fashion. A Mankad is a run-out attempt made by the bowler before his delivery stride to dismiss the batter at the non-striker’s end, largely considered against the spirit of cricket, and is named after Indian player Vinoo Mankad - who used the method of dismissal in 1947.

Earlier, William Curwen (3-42) and William Thurgate (3-47) got wickets as the hosts reached their total thanks to half-centuries from Archie Lally (81) and Andrew Maurice (72).

Sandwich skipper Craig Snell’s 54 off 50 balls set the platform in their run-chase and Matthew Carney (41) shared a 99-run stand with Laslett before the late drama.

Sandwich Town 2nds and High Halstow 1sts are due to meet again on Saturday, August 16, at Sandwich’s The Butts ground.