In the end, Binfield needed a rearguard batting display from Paul Edgington (50*) and Joe Sculley (16*) to secure the draw and deny the visitors a maximum-points victory.

Taplow won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot sunny afternoon with conditions in favour of the batsmen.

Saeed Bhukari got Taplow off to a great start but Matt Hayman grabbed his wicket as he found the outside of the bat with a perfect delivery that was caught by keeper Greg Simmonds.

Taplow were handily placed on 145-2 on a frustrating day for Binfield’s bowlers, but they dug in and some resilient fielding restricted the visitors to 227-7 from their full allocation of 52 overs.

Binfield were sharp in the field and some excellent catches from Mike Staves, James Collett and Sculley kept Taplow in check.

Jack Collett picked up three wickets, James Collett two, and Staves and Hayman one apiece.

It was important for Binfield to get off to a good start if they were to chase down their target.

However, an impressive opening spell from Talow’s Javed Khan put an end to that as he ripped through the upper order, leaving Binfield in trouble on 42-5.

Defeat looked inevitable for the home side, but Edgington had other ideas. His patient innings was ably assisted by James Collett and later by Sculley to help Binfield kill any Taplow hopes of victory and grab a draw.

Edgington reached his half-century in the final over and the hosts had him to thank for the draw which keeps them ahead of Taplow at the top of the table.

Next up for Binfield is a trip to Wraysbury this Saturday (1.30pm).

Meanwhile, Binfield 2nds hit top form with the bat in a 77-run victory at Pinkneys Green 2nds. Pinkneys won the toss and their decision to field looked a good one when they reduced Binfield to 11-3.

However, the visitors mounted a rousing recovery led by in-form Matt Humphrey.

He held the innings together with a superb 79 not out and he was ably assisted by Matt York, who made 54, and Gary Saunders with a brisk 44 to take Binfield to an imposing 290-9 from 48 overs.

Pinkneys then made a blistering start to their reply and reached 100 without loss. Humphrey led from the front once again by sparking a Pinkneys collapse as the hosts crumbled to 213 all out.

Humphrey bagged four important wickets, and Scott Butler chipped in with figures of 3-37 to guide their side to victory.

The win keeps Binfield 2nds top of the Chiltern Cricket League Division Three table and they now boast a whopping 39-point lead over second-placed Taplow 2nds.

Binfield 2nds host Great Kingshill 2nds this Saturday (1pm).