EXHALL and Wixford, who have a habit of taking their npower Village Cup games down to the wire, surpassed themselves to earn a place in the Leicestershire and Warwickshire group final.

Last Sunday's thrilling clash at Fillongley ended with the scores level at the end of 40 overs with the 2004 Lord's finalists booking a final home date against Ansley, who defeated Earlswood by eight wickets, on June 18 on the basis of lowing fewer wickets.

Simon Hollands won the toss and it was a discussion that backfired as openers Blackmore and Smith got off to a flyer. However, the double introduction of Andy Marsh and John Park swung things back Exhall's way as the scoring decr-eased and both veterans grabbed a wicket.

Hollands and Park both pouched fine catches and a couple of run-outs helped Exhall restrict the home side to 204-9.

Matt Gwynn was quick out of the blocks after tea and he received solid if unspectacular support from his captain who found runs hard to come by.

When Gwynn chipped a simple catch to mid wicket four short of a fifty had dominated an opening stand of 58. Steve Kerby joined Hollands and played some fine strokes eventually beating Hollands to his half-century.

The chasers needed 81 off the last ten overs and another close finish was inevitable.

When Kerby's entertaining knock of 53 that included three 6s came to an end, wicket keeper Scott Carmichael entered the fray and forced the visibly tiring Hollands to up the pace - run wise.

The tiring skipper was eventually out for 66 seemingly lacking the strength to hit the ball over the ropes leaving his side 32 shy of their target with four overs remaining.

John Simpson and Carmi-chael scampered a few runs with the odd boundary thrown in but the tension was mounting as Exhall needed 11 off the last over to overhaul Fill-ongley's effort.

A boundary to Simpson off the opening ball took the pressure off slightly before two dot balls kept the result in the balance.

Three runs were needed off two balls to win off 2 balls and a fumble by the home stumper allowed Simpson to make his ground after Carm-ichael had called for a second.

Having seven wickets in hand, the visitors were home and dry and Simpson's dubious leg before dismissal last ball up proved immaterial as, for the second successive Sunday, the Cotswold Hills League side secured a last-over triumph.