TONGE set themselves up for a league and cup double when they pipped Kearsley in the Hamer Cup final clash of the titans.

The League high-flyers produced the thriller everybody anticipated with one of the most gripping climaxes in the history of the competition.

There was little hint of the thrills to follow when Kearsley steadily built a 210 total that was always going to produce a severe test for Tonge.

Kearsley suffered early blows as Stephen Davies, Craig Duxbury and Paul Berry all went for modest scores.

But David White and Craig Lavelle restored confidence with an 87 partnership, White's resistance eventually breached for 64 and Lavelle run out for 43.

Then on came pro Steve Dublin for the last five overs in which he hammered an exciting 31 runs from 17 deliveries.

Tonge will just be delighted Kearsley decided not to throw him into the fray when they had the chance with more than 20 overs left. Watched by a crowd in excess of 1,000, producing record gate receipts for a Hamer Cup Final of almost £900, the two sides then staged a show of pure theatre.

Tonge suffered a nightmare start when Gary Garner fell in the second over without a run on the board before things went from the ridiculous to the sublime for his side.

Man of the match Nigel Partington and Simon Anderton put on a mountainous second wicket stand of 176 - which the statisticians believe is certain to be a record for the competition's final.

But just as they seemed to be coasting to victory, Tonge found themselves in trouble. Anderton was run out and Partington became the first victim of David White who saw off four of Tonge's first five batsmen.

And in a horrible collapse, Tonge lost seven wickets for just 19 runs.

That left them needing 21 runs off the last three overs with two wickets remaining. Kevin Kirkpatrick and Bob Waller checked the slide and went into the last over requiring six to win.

Kirkpatrick eased the nerves with a four off the first ball and Waller started the Tonge party with a thick edge off the third ball.

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