After putting the visitors in to bat, The Main were rewarded with a wicket in the very first over, Butler clean bowling opener Bacasundaram.

However, with the left-handed Raza looking assured and big-hitter Ahmed producing some fine strokes, Cowgate progressed steadily to 47-1.

Skipper Walker then introduced Micky Phillips into the attack, a devastating move that saw Phillips take three for 22 in a fine ten over spell.

In addition, professional Salim Akther was run out after good work by Mirza and Butler returned, bowling some deceptively slower deliveries, to clean up the tail.

Cowgate were finally all out for 108 in the 46th over.

In reply, Main openers Mirza and professional Ali made slow but steady progress, reaching 31 without loss.

Then, as the skies clouded over and the weather turned, so did the course of the match.

Cowgate skipper Chowdry brought K. Azam into the attack and his late in-swingers proved destructive.

Within five overs, The Main had gone from 33-1 to 38-7 and Azam had claimed a hat-trick.

From then on, it was attritional stuff, although with Ali looking composed at one end, Percy Main were still hopeful.

Wickets continued to fall and fingernails continued to get shorter as the runs were eked out in agonising fashion, and when last man Richie Walker joined Ali at the wicket with nine still required, Cowgate were possibly favourites.

However, the skipper held his nerve and his clip over mid-wicket, which won the game with only four balls remaining and will live long in the memory of all the spectators who were by now balanced precariously on the very edge of their seats.

Nervy stuff, and Walker said afterwards: "Obviously we're pleased to be winning, but we're definitely not yet firing on all cylinders".

In contrast, Percy Main seconds returned from Ryton to report a comfortable victory, thanks mainly to Paddy Rathbone's patient knock of 71, three-wicket hauls from Yorkshireman Dan Hairee-Metcalfe and the experienced Ron Balsillie, as well as some excellent, sharp work in the field from Paul Merryweather.