Tempers flared as emotions ran high in a dramatic Eastern Counties Cup first-round match that ended in a draw when the umpires lifted the bails at the cut-off time of 7.20pm just moments after two runs by Kyle Hodsoll levelled the scores.

The two runs came off the final ball of Dion Stovell’s fifteenth over, which was right on the scheduled finish time for Eastern Counties matches. James McKirdy and Oscar Andrade checked their watches and lifted the bails, sparking emotions within both teams: Cleveland players were relieved and celebrating, while the Bay players and fans were shocked and angry that they had been unfairly denied a chance at victory.

Bay felt they were particularly hard done by because 40 minutes were lost when Cleveland threatened to walk off the field an hour into the Bay innings after becoming increasingly frustrated over umpiring decisions. The most contentious was a claimed return catch by Treadwell Gibbons to dismiss Azende Furbert that McKirdy ruled was hit into the pitch.

The lengthy delay that ensued required the intervention of Steven Douglas, the Eastern Counties Cricket Association president, and Carlton Smith, the Cleveland County president, for play to eventually resume. Their presence was complemented by an on-duty police officer before Bay’s innings resumed at 50 for four in the eighteenth over.

After dismissing the champions three balls into the 50th over, Bay were left with 66 overs at less than two runs an over to reach the 128 target, but time lost for the disruption was not taken into account.

Bay were well in control early on before another slump when chasing a low target at Lord’s set up the dramatic finish, as they slipped from 70 for three in the 26th over to 116 for eight, when Hodsoll joined Steven Outerbridge at the crease in the 39th over.

The match threatened to boil over earlier in the 40th over when Hodsoll glanced a ball from Stovell to the long-leg boundary for four. Cleveland fans protested to the umpires that the fielder was obstructed by Bay fans who ran on to the field as the ball rolled into the boundary rope.

It was the latest in a string of decisions that upset the champions, with the club president making his first visit to the playing area to urge his players to calm down.

Dramatically, a couple of balls later it was Cleveland who were celebrating as the umpires lifted the ball to signal the match was over with the scores ties and Cleveland, as the holders, set to advance to the second round against Flatts. Incensed Bay players and supporters could not believe what they were seeing, as players and fans vented their frustration despite a police presence. The umpires were escorted off the field by police at the end of the game.

Outerbridge, who guided Bay to their winning position with a patient and calculated knock of 44 off 92 balls, stood disbelieving at the crease when the match was stopped with Bay on the brink of victory. He questioned why Bay were the team punished for the behaviour of Cleveland, who bowled only 40 overs in roughly 3½ hours — from 3.48pm to 7.20pm.

“We waited for [almost] a whole hour because Cleveland brought the game into disrepute,” said Outerbridge, a former Bay captain. “We could have walked off after they threatened the umpires. You even have a [Eastern Counties] president who is from Cleveland.

“Rules are rules and this was one rule that I asked to be changed, but there are people who make a decision who just don’t have an idea.”

A quota of 118 overs are allowed for the day, but at 7.20pm only 89.3 overs were bowled in a match that started seven minutes behind the scheduled time of 10am.

“That’s the only rule I asked to be changed,” Outerbridge said. “I never saw a match referee. I asked the umpires over and over ‘are you going to play for an extra half an hour?’ That just shows you the character of their team.”

Earlier, Hodsoll claimed six for 42 off 18.3 overs to restrict Cleveland to 127. Only Jason Anderson made a reasonable contribution, scoring 30 off 66 balls with three fours and a six before he was brilliantly stumped by Sinclair Smith on the last ball before lunch to reduce Cleveland to 84 for four.

That quickly became 84 for five when captain Allan Douglas was stumped by Smith the first ball after lunch, as Hodsoll bowled the last ball of his eleventh over. In all, Smith had three catches and two stumpings, four of the dismissals off Hodsoll’s bowling.

Dion Stovell made 17 and Damali Bell 19 to offer resistance in the middle order, and colt Adrian Burrows scored 19 off 75 balls at the top of the innings.

Furbert scored 39 at the top of Bay innings, also from 75 balls after lasting 138 minutes and hitting six fours before he was third out after putting on 55 with Outerbridge. They came together at 15 for two in the eighth over after off spinner Stovell bowled Terryn Fray and Tre Manders in his second and fourth overs.

Stovell claimed two for 44 from 15 overs, Bell took two for 14 off five and captain Douglas two for 30 from nine.