THE fast bowlers may have slowed down a bit these days and the batsmen's eye for the ball isn't what it was -- but the veterans showed they can still produce the goods.

For the inaugural Accrington and District League's Veterans Competition got off to a real cracker -- with the tie going all the way to the last ball.

In the end it was Enfield Manufacturing Company who managed to sneak through to the semi finals after St Phillips failed to get the four rounds they needed off the last ball.

Competition rules meant that any player who reached 25 runs had to retire.

And Enfield's Phil Hodson showed that he did not want to hang around too long as he reached the maximum total by the end of the fifth over.

His quick-fire 27 included six boundaries, with three coming off the last three balls he faced.

An over earlier, Enfield lost their first wicket when Hodson's opening partner Colin Jennings was dismissed for 10 after Howard Sutcliff produced a flying catch off the bowling of Bill Swift. However, Jennings had already made his mark on the game when, in the second ball of the match, he smashed a towering six that hit the roof of a car, bounced over the wall and was never to be seen again!

And it was a new ball. New batsmen Richard and Tim Hargreaves kept the momentum going until the 10th over when Richard was caught by Chris Chaplow off Ian Lawrenson. An over later Tim was forced to retire when he fell awkwardly when on 13 runs.

With neither side able to dominate with the ball -- they gave away a combined total of 64 runs in extras -- it was the batsmen who took charge.

And Nick Smith did just that as he smashed a wonderful and unbeaten 28. Smith was later to show he was probably the best bowler on display as well.

St Phillips left arm bowler Tom Tatham did trouble Enfield with this medium pace bowling and he got the wicket his efforts deserved when Sutcliff produced another fine catch to dismiss Mark Hargreaves.

And wicketkeeper Chaplow showed he still has his reflexes as he reacted quickly to stump Craig Johnson.

At the end of the 20 overs, Ray Alexander remained unbeaten on 13 with Steve Hargreaves with one run. In reply, St Phillips got off to the worse possible start when Lawrenson was cleaned bowled by Mick Leeming off the first ball. That meant Tatham was called upon earlier than expected but he too produced a vintage performance with the bat as he also surpassed the maximum total.

St Phillips had their injury problems as well and Mark Hargreaves was forced to retire hurt in the third over. Tatham retired in the ninth on 26 but another 'golden oldie' Bill Swift made sure St Phillips stayed on course as he remained at the crease. And after Steve Devoy was run out for five runs, Keith Lofthouse upped the tempo again and he reached 25 in less than four overs -- thanks to one mighty six and three fours.

With St Phillips seemingly heading towards victory, Enfield saved their best bowler until last. And Nick Smith managed to slow St Phillips down, conceding just one run in his first over and then took the vital wicket of Chaplow in his next.

That left Eddie Pearson with the task of hitting four runs off the last ball and despite a mighty slog, Enfield skipper Steve Hargreaves prevented the ball from going over the boundary.