Sacriston came out winners in a close encounter against Richmondshire in the final of Durham Vitality Blast T20 Final at Emirates Riverside.
Result: Sacriston Colliery Cricket Club (119-5) beat Richmondshire Cricket Club (116-8) by five wickets.
Following a busy summer of under-19 cricket involving group games and knockout fixtures, Sacriston made it count in the most dramatic way possible.
Sacriston skipper Callum Dodds won the toss and elected to bowl as Richmond began positively in their aim to put runs on the board, progressing steadily to 68-3.
However, tight bowling from Ross Cordner – with 4-18 from four overs – left the North Yorkshire outfit struggling at 94-7.
Jordon Moss, 25 in 30 balls, and Joe Shields, 25 in 24 balls, contributed in their total of 116-8 from 20 overs. Sam Winter added 17 as Jonathan Bushnell, Nathan Hall and Connor Clough all bagged one wicket each.
An opening first-wicket stand of 49 between Bushnell (18) and Sol Bell (26) had Sacriston pushing along nicely – but once both fell Sacriston began to sweat, needing to go at seven an over in search of victory.
Charlie Winn (18) and Dominic Scott (15) led Sacriston to within touching distance of claiming the trophy.
However, both departed in successive overs leaving Richmond favourites as Sam Winter and Jonny Carr both struck.
Matthew Brown (six) and Jack Adams (four) took Sacriston to requiring just two to win with two balls to go.
It was Brown who settled any nerves as he fired Sacriston to victory with a boundary to leave his side winners by five wickets with one ball to spare.
James Kelly (2-30) was the pick of the bowlers for the Hurgill Road side while Winter, Websdale and Carr took a wicket each.