Willow Cuts captain Dexter Basden led from the front with a splendid unbeaten century but Hamilton Parish spoiled his day at Shelly Bay field with a thrilling one-wicket win with 4.4 overs remaining.

Basden batted throughout the Willow Cuts innings upon winning the toss, hitting 11 fours and a six in a knock of 110, which lasted three-and-a-half hours.

Cuts had a slow start when Anthony Fubler was bowled by Terry Burgess when the score was seven. And though Cuts added another 26 before the second wicket fell, they found themselves behind the run rate as just 20 came in their first 10 overs and 55 from the first 20.

Halfway through their allotted 50 overs Willow Cuts had 67 on the board with Kevin Fubler, Trevor Dickinson and Rodney Fubler all gone from a batting line-up that was also missing the injured Richard Basden.

But as long as Dexter Basden stayed at the crease Cuts had some hope of mounting a challenging total. At the fall of the fifth wicket -- that of Joseph Matthews -- on 73 Basden was joined by Vivian Simons and together they began to boost the scoring rate as Simons contributed a useful 20 in the stand of 52.

Parish got back on top briefly when Simons, Winslow Williams and Vance Gilbert all departed in the space of 13 runs to leave the visitors 138 for eight and skipper Basden wondering if he would run out of partners before reaching his ton. He accomplished that feat with the help of Kevin Lapsley who was at the other end when Basden struck a four to bring up his century.

That stand was worth 47 runs, of which Lapsley scored 14 as Basden went on to remain unbeaten. The final 20 overs yielded 106 runs.

Philip Bailey, who left St. George's because of limited opportunities, celebrated his debut for Parish by taking four for 33 from his 10 overs. Terry Burgess claimed two for 26 from 10 overs and another new signing, spinner Kent Gibbons from Bailey's Bay, two for 27 from six overs.

Parish made a gallant chase for the runs as Millard Bean, back for a second spell with the club, and Mike Burgess put on 52 for the first wicket. Bean hit five fours and a six in his 142 minutes at the crease for 69 while Burgess struck 15.

The loss of captain Ricky Hill for 14, 19 runs later proved a vital wicket for Cuts but Parish kept chipping away at their target as the 100 came up before they lost their third wicket, that of Dennis Trott for 21.

Gradually they moved to 142 for five as the match hung in the balance but when three wickets fell on 154 in the space of two overs Parish looked to have blown their chance of victory at 154 for eight. Caisey (27 not out) joined number nine bat Gibbons (six) and their 17-run ninth-wicket stand set up the tense finish, the stand ending 16 runs from victory when Gibbons came down the crease to drive Vivian Simons and was stumped.

But new signing from Somerset, Trent Simmons, proved to be a good partner for Caisey as he stayed at the other end while Caisey launched an attack on the Cuts bowlers. Simmons scored the winning four off a short-pitched delivery from spinner Williams who had been brought on with six runs still needed.

Simons led Cuts' bowling with three for 31. Rodney Fubler took two for 30 and Gilbert two for 36.