The last pair of Josh Baker and George Bartram scored a single off the final ball to earn Worcestershire CCC Academy a dramatic one wicket win over Worksop College on the final day of the Shrewsbury School Festival.
Baker and Bartram came together at 197-9 after exactly 48 of the 50 overs in pursuit of a 215 target.
A six by Baker – the only one of the game – brought the target into reach in the penultimate over which yielded a total of 13 runs.
Five were required from the last over and Baker (15 not out) collected a single off the last delivery to see the Academy over the line.
Oliver Cox (43 off 77 balls with three fours) and Rehan Edavaleth (26) added 50 for the fifth wicket but both then fell with the total on 133.
Rowan Hesketh (31 off 28 deliveries) kept the Academy in the hunt but when he was ninth out the balance looked to have tipped in Worksop’s favour until Baker and Bartram joined forces.
Baker had also played an important role with the ball, bowling his 10 overs for just 29 runs and ending an 83 run stand for the second wicket between Will Duncan (36) and Olly Blackburn (40).
He held a return catch offered by Blackburn and two runs later Oliver Halion had Duncan stumped by Ben Lees.
Bartram also chipped in with the wicket of Rubel Senekal (37) lbw after a stand of 58 for the fifth wicket with Archie Shannon (30).
Edavaleth returned 3-45 from his 10 overs and Hesketh 2-36 from his full quota of overs as Worksop were bowled out for 214 in 49.2 overs.
