With light fading fast and Aberdeen 2 needing a six off the last ball to win, Golden Fleece Warriors’ Mac Dawson sent the bails flying to hand his side a second straight A grade title.

The Warriors had earlier won the toss and elected to bat first. 

A soggy outfield made conditions tricky for both teams, but it was Aberdeen 2 that settled the better.

Disciplined bowling saw Golden Fleece strangled for runs and, as the Warriors attempted to accelerate after the drinks break, a cluster of wickets soon fell.

Opener Isaac Smith (43) departed when he picked out the fielder at fine leg, while Scott Lyne (10) was dismissed attempting to launch a delivery over the cones.

Captain Josh Noble scored quickly from the off and added a vital 34 before being run-out.

Aberdeen continued to slow their opponents down by claiming regular scalps, but late-order hitting enabled Golden Fleece to end the innings with a competitive total of 7/148.

In reply, two quick wickets to Dawson helped the Warriors put a big dent in Aberdeen’s hopes of victory as he bagged both Jeremy Smith and Brandon Parkinson.

However, a strong partnership between skipper Andrew Hill and Ben Crackett got them back on track before some power-hitting from Robert Bennett saw Aberdeen reach 3/68 at the 20-over mark.

The wickets of Bennett (20) and Hill (22) after the break then looked to have swung the match towards the Warriors again.

Enter Michael Hansia and Nick Crackett.

They battled hard to keep in touch with the required run-rate and eventually put Aberdeen within sight of victory.

A couple of wickets to Joel Harrison (2/30) set up a thrilling finale, with 12 runs needed off the last over.

That then came down to six runs required from two balls. 

And, with a number of Warriors’ fieldsmen guarding the boundary, Dawson was able to conjure a final bit of energy to grab a wicket from both deliveries.

Cue the celebrations for Golden Fleece.

BELLTREES made a relatively slow start to its B grade grand final against Bunnan but exploded after the drinks break.

In a classic captain’s knock, Chris Simpson (92) belted his side to a formidable total of 5/170 from 32 overs.

Earl Burnett also chipped in with an unbeaten 25.

The pick of Bunnan’s bowlers were Campbell Murray (1/18) and Glen Davis (1/20).

In reply, Peter Ashford top-scored with 29 while skipper Mick Soper (15) and Gavin Holland (10) both made starts.

However, it was not enough for Bunnan as a dominant bowling performance saw Adam Williamson (4/33) and Will Osmond (3/16) tear through the batting order.

Belltrees eventually went on to win by a convincing 79 runs.

Details: 

A Grade: Warriors 7 / 148 def Aberdeen B 143.

Warriors 7/148 off 40 overs. Isaac Smith 43, Josh Noble 34, Scott Lyne 10. B Parkinson 2/17, B Crackett 2/ 48, B Baker 1/17.

Aberdeen B 143 off 40 overs. Nick Crackett 26, Andrew Hill 22, Michael Hansia 20, Rob Bennett 20, Ben Crackett 13. M Dawson 4/16, J Harrison 2/30.

B Grade: Belltrees 5/170 off 32 overs.

Chris Simpson 92, E Burnett 25*. C Murray 1 / 18, G Davis 1/20, M Langan 1/28.

Bunnan 91 off 32 overs. Peter Ashford 29, M Soper 15, G Holland 10. A Williamson 4/33, W Osmond 3/16, M French 2/28, B McRae 1/7.