Dumbleton (129-4) lose to Bredon (130-4) with one ball remaining
Matches don’t come any closer than this, both in terms of the score-book, which often disguises reality, and on the pitch where the sides were evenly matched and equally competitive.
Dumbleton got the better start to their innings with Matt Nicholson (30 no) and Ashley Baker (31) taking 60 with ease from the Bredon opening bowlers.
From such a base, and both retired, Scott Tremain (16) and Tom Green (29 no) passed the hundred in the 10th over with four wickets remaining.
Dumbleton probably should have capitalised on this position, especially with the return of the openers, but Dom Fenney took two good wickets to disrupt the final assault.
One hundred and twenty-nine nevertheless is a better than par total, and if Bredon were to win there would be little margin for error.
Jamie Munro (34) and Tim McVIcker (24) made a positive start, even though McVicker was run out in the third over at 36.
Martin Hill (32 no) and Jamie Diamond (28 no) pressed on and were ahead of the rate and Dumbleton at the same stage.
Two more retirements and a couple of wickets later brought the Bredon openers back. All good tactics, one assumed.
Tom Green was now bowling with pace and beating the bat of Munro, eventually yorking him with the score 127-4 in the last over.
Diamond had two balls to face and played Green back firmly for three and victory.
Whether this decides the league is to be seen. Both sides have a game left, with Bredon facing Ashton-under-Hill in theirs.