DITTON successfully chased more than seven runs an over to win the President's Cup in Halton Bayer Cricket League - despite being in deep trouble at 86-5 and needing 143 to win.
Eventually requiring 12 runs off the last over, they did it in style to reach the challenging target set by arch-rivals Parklands with a ball to spare at Widnes CC.
Parklands made 142-9 in their 20 overs, openers Negi and Murphy amassing 75 from the first ten.
However, the picture changed with the introduction of spin.
Murphy became the first of Yearsley's four victims but not before he bringing up his half-century off 33 balls with a towering six.
He was later awarded man-ofthe-match by league stalwart Reg Knight.
Two more wickets fell for the addition of 20 runs.
Sunni was caught by Ste Dean off Yearsley for two, while Danny Naughton, having been hit for two successive fours, took the prized wicket of Negi (43) to a tremendous catch by long-on Mark Pierce.
Howard came in at 105-3 from 14 overs but just six runs had been added when Joey McClarnon - brother of Atomic Kitten pop star Liz - was caught behind for one by Hatton off Yearsley.
The latter completed his 4-31 haul by bowling Howard for eight (122-5).
Lovelady and Ian Dutton fell to the returning Dean in the 19th over with the score on 134.
Ditton's innings started badly in increasingly overcast conditions. Yearsley edged to wicketkeeper Clemence off only the third ball he had faced from Negi.
Halfway through the innings, Gaz Hatton was caught off Murphy for 19.
Danny Naughton came in to add 38 with Sharp, before being caught in the deep off Ratcliffe. Dean, batting five, was run out without facing a ball.
And when Murphy bowled Sharp for 30, Ditton were in strife at 86-5.
5. But Mark Pierce and Ste Morgan had raised the score to 121 when Pierce (13) was run out, attempting a risky single.
Littler, at eight, ran three legbyes on the back of a good lbw appeal but was bowled by Negi next ball.
The last over was dramatic, with a wide by Dutton being followed by two leg byes, a couple of twos and a three to leave Ditton needing two from as many deliveries.
Morgan (28no) wasted no time in smashing the next ball past a close-set field for a winning boundary four.
Dave Giles was on 10no as Ditton got home on 145-7.
League vice-president Charles Chadwick presented the trophy to Ditton captain Robbie Morris and medals to the teams plus umpires Don Flanagan and Dave Spencer.
