ST BLAZEY were crowned Division Two East champions following a 10-run success at a Bude side who survived by the skin of their teeth.

Blazey headed into the day a point behind leaders Luckett, and although all matches in the east of the county were rained off with the exception of one, the game that did go ahead was Luckett’s trip to St Minver, albeit it was reduced to 20 overs per side having not got underway until 4.30pm.

While the weather was far from ideal at Bude, conditions were never bad enough to cancel and play started at 3.30pm with Bude skipper Warren Rumble choosing to field in a game reduced to 30 overs.

With both games on, the season was set for a remarkable conclusion, and so it proved.

Although the conditions were difficult for bowlers, Bude started off poorly and never recovered as openers Matt Bennetts and Rory Dixon raced to 50-0 in just four overs.

A heavy shower took the players off for an early tea at 87-0 after 12 which meant the game was reduced further to 26 overs.

David Sillifant was introduced with nine overs to go and struck in his first over as Matt Bennetts (61) skied a catch to extra cover where the returning James Turner took an excellent catch (107-1).

New man Ben Griffiths survived a vociferous lbw appeal off Matt Williams before he went for 10 in Sillifant’s (2-30 off 5) next over.

However, South African Ruhann Brenner joined Dixon (70no off 67 balls) and he made an unbeaten 35 from just 20 balls as they eventually finished on 198-2, in the process ensuring Bude mustered just one bowling point.

Needing nearly eight an over from the outset, Bude promoted Turner (16) to open and struck two sixes in the first over from the otherwise miserly Nithin Gowda (1-25 off 5) before holing out off the third.

Wayne Adams made eight before being run-out and when Matt Whitefield fell in the same fashion, Bude were staring down the barrel (56-3).

Brenner bowled Aussie Brett Hunter with a fine delivery (78-4), but thankfully from the hosts’ point of view, Rumble found form when he needed it the most, playing a superb knock of 86 from just 70 balls with six sixes,

With both sides keeping tabs on what was happening at St Minver, every 40 runs and two wickets were crucial, as was the result itself.

But with Luckett only securing seven points at St Minver having only mustered 121-9 in pursuit of 173, it meant eight wickets would give Blazey the title even if they lost.

Bude required 77 off the final seven overs with six wickets in-hand, but made a real fist of it and took it down to 25 needed off the final 12 balls with four wickets in-hand with Rumble still there.

The first ball bowled by man-of-the-match Dixon (2-29 off 6) went for four, however the off-spinner held his nerve to bowl Rumble with the next.

The title was Blazey’s off the final ball of the over as Dixon bowled Matt Williams (12).

Bude required 18 off the final over bowled by Simon Dixon (1-34 off 4) and managed just seven as well as being bowled out.