And .... breathe! They say the sequel is rarely as good as the original but, given the outcome, this is one of those rare occasions. For the second time this season Lodway 2s and Cleeve 2s, both seeking promotion, tussled until the final ball. This time the Sharks prevailed and kept their promotion hopes alive with two games to play.

Skipper Dice lost the toss and the home team chose to bowl. Deano and Dawesy opened up but were both dismissed early by Grubb Junior (16-2). Rimon and Abs are yet to crack the August traffic enigma, so Harris came in at 3 walking gingerly having 'bottled a 50/50 tackle' on Friday night. In form Williamson came and went leaving Harris and Parkhouse with a repair job at 17-3. Parkhouse counter attacked and put pressure back on Cleeve with 6 boundaries in his 33 but, after a partnership of 53, was frustrated to give it away with a big score looking on. Harris picked up the baton and went to an excellent 50 in a partnership of 54 with the recently arrived Rimon. But from 124-4 wickets fell regularly and created the sense that the pitch wasn't easy to score on. Shoppers provided the most entertaining 10 minutes of the innings when a powerful 6 over the legside was immediately followed by a reverse sweep for 4. When asked by the bowler if he had any other shots, he replied by identifying and then playing the perfect forward defence. Unfortunately next over he ramped one into his own stumps. Abs playing aggressively and Barker resolutely added 15 for the final wicket. How useful that proved to be at 7pm. Cleeve needed 192 to win.

Roberts and Williamson opened up and both looked threatening. Roberts beat the bat on countless occasions and had a catch put down at gully. Williamson was eventually rewarded following a sharp catch behind by keeper Dicer (33-1). That brought Grubb Junior into join Grubb Senior. A tense period of play followed as a couple of very tough, and one not so tough, chances went down. But with Rimon and Barker keeping control Cleeve went to drinks at 81-1 and all still to play for.

Abs was introduced after the break and Grubb senior ran out of luck, being caught and bowled for 40 (98-2). Soon after a huge over as Abs bowled match winner from game 1, Parsons, and Cole (110-4). The tension never eased as Cleeve couldn't get ahead of the rate and Lodway struggled to break a partnership between Grubb Junior and Soch. Abs finished with a crucial 3-38 (21 wickets for the season) and the responsibility to try and close the game out was with Dawe and Williamson. With the partnership past 50 it felt like Cleeve were ahead even though the run rate kept creeping up and it was 5 overs since the last boundary. Incredibly Dawe bowled a maiden to start and soon Cleeve needed 24 off the last 3 overs. With boundaries at a premium they pushed for 2s and ran byes to the keeper. With 17 off 2 needed, Dawesy produced an unbelievable penultimate over that conceded just 3 runs and, crucially, took the wicket of Grubb Junior for a determined 63.

14 off 6 balls needed. Williamson started brilliantly by bowling opposition skipper Turner, 14 off 5. Bye,13 off 4. Then a wobble from Wobbly. A wide that inexplicably turned into 4 as the pressure showed and the ball was thrown up and down the wicket, 9 off 4. Wide, 8 off 4. When veteran Hance slashed over third man for 4 it felt like Cleeve would sneak another close finish, 4 off 3. It would have been easy for the situation to get the better of youngster Williamson but he showed immense composure and skill to concede a single and then bowl a dot, 3 off 1. The ground fell silent, Williamson braced himself for one last effort and he delivered. Dicer kept the ball and his composure to wander to the stumps as the batters scrambled a bye. Lodway win by 1 run. Exhilarating stuff and an incredible team effort in the field to defend the last 20 overs. Special mention to Dawesy (4-1-11-1) for a game changing spell at the death and Williamson for keeping his head under huge pressure. Two to play, promotion still on.