AN exciting last over victory against Sutton Coldfield was more than enough to secure Bromsgrove Cricket Club's future in Birmingham and District Premier League Division One on Saturday.

The match proved to be almost identical to the previous week's farce at Leamington with Julian Court scoring the final runs that left Town in a disappointing final place of eighth.

Skipper Paul Duffy elected to bowl first as a safety net to secure bonus points and paceman Adrian Field rewarded him in his third over when the dangerous Ship was caught behind by keeper Price.

The next wicket was a long time coming and as the pressure mounted, nerves began to set in. Jason Vaughan-Davies took the second when he induced Dandy (28) to edge behind and Neale Ingram then picked up the prize wicket of ex-Warwickshire star Paul Smith for a duck.

Bromsgrove picked up for a few overs but a lack of wickets again made them retreat before Field bowled Davies (45) and Bennett had Aspelling (13) well caught at slip.

At 95 for five things were going well but East had other ideas. The big hitter was on the attack straight away and took the final score to 169 for seven off the allotted 52 overs, finishing 54 not out.

All Town's bowlers contributed with Clive Bennett, playing in his last league game for the club, bowling 18 economical overs, conceding just 49 runs and picking up one wicket.

Openers Paul Duffy (16) and Nick Davies (28) began cautiously and managed just 11 runs off as many overs before Davies opened up with a great counter-attack.

He was challenged by Smith with a series of short deliveries but took up the offer with two thunderous hook shots, the second of which went for a huge six.

His attacking play proved to be his downfall when he tried to sweep East.

Jerome Connor (eight) began with good intentions but was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Smith. Duffy fell shortly after as the innings faltered to 55 for three.

Zimbabwean Jason Vaughan-Davies, who like Bennett was playing in his last game before flying home, strode to the crease and played one of the innings that he has trade marked during the season.

Latching onto anything that strayed, he tore into the bowling to bring the game back to life, scoring six fours and three sixes.

His knock of 50 was just what was needed. Supported by Bennett (18) they took the score to 106. Bennett then received support by the gritty Mike Bennison. The Second XI skipper was brought into this crucial game with survival in mind.

Taking it steady, the pair worked towards the next target of the 150 runs bonus point, but when Bennett fell the draw looked the most likely outcome.

Julian Court and Bennison slowly picked up the runs and as time ticked away Sutton could have quite easily slowed the game down.

But, credit to them, they played it properly and with two overs to go Bromsgrove needed 20 runs to win.

The pair helped themselves to 11 off Smith's over, leaving eight runs from the final six deliveries with Court on strike.

As the bowler ran in Court took a couple of steps down the wicket and smashed the ball over the bowler's head and into the car park for six.

With three more runs needed he rocked back and cut the ball to the cover boundary for four.