A sensational 111 runs brutally struck by skipper Steve Gray off just 45 balls hauled Fakenham back into winning the Hunts County Bats Norfolk Senior Cup Final.
However, still needing four runs off the last ball and number nine Jack Rowley facing, an agonised silence fell over the entire ground.
He connected and a roar went up as the ball sped over the boundary, as Fakenham triumphed in a game they were always behind the asking rate.
They scored 214 for 8 against A & B Wanderers 213 for 2, winning by just two wickets.
The performance of Gray cannot be belittled. He showered the boundary with no less than 12 sixes and 7 fours.
A & B Wanderers won the toss and elected to bat.
At their imperious best, Tristan Elam (85) and Jordan Everett (59) put on 145 runs for the first wicket.
Their dominance continued with a smartly struck 45 Not Out off just 15 balls by Louie Stronach.
The pick of the Fakenham bowling was Keegan Monahan-Fairlie (2 for 30).
At this point, it was virtually inconceivable that Fakenham could get anywhere near their total.
After the match, competition organiser Colin King said: “This was one of those matches when people will fondly recall that ‘they were there’ when Steve Gray played that truly amazing innings.
“I felt so honoured to be able to present the Norfolk Senior Cup to Steve and also award him the Man of the Match trophy. He also received a bespoke bat courtesy of Hunts County Bats.”
