White Hill Field (Somerset Bridge won toss): Somerset Bridge defeated Flatts by two wickets.

An unheralded season turned joyful for Somerset Bridge as they erased Cleveland’s dream of adding the First Division 40 Overs Knockout Cup to their limited overs league title.

Just as they had the day before against favoured opponents, Bridge stunned the league champions, taking advantage of an uneven pitch with variable bounce that could punish or reward.

For Bridge the result was punishment as the home team dismantled a fearsome batting line-up that had just a day previously performed above par, dismissing Cleveland for a mere 78 runs in 22.4 overs.

More utilised as an opening batter, Shawn Riley showed his prowess with the ball as he took five wickets, equalling his career-best haul.

Riley’s guileful seam bowling mix proved virtually unplayable for Cleveland’s top order as he accounted for five of the first six batters, with three of these comprehensively bowled.

The bottom fell out of the Cleveland innings after they reached 43 for one based on a 34-run second-wicket partnership between Jacobi Butterfield and Steven Bremar.

Once Riley bowled Bremar for three, a non-stop parade to and from the players' tent ensued, with no Cleveland batter achieving double figures outside of Butterfield, who was seventh out after achieving a team-best 32.

“The five wickets don't matter,” said Riley of his match-winning haul. “What matters to me is we won the game.

“I put my best foot forward. I wanted to win the game and I got lucky with my five wickets.

“The wicket was a little tacky. Some balls were coming up, some balls were staying still, but it hit me that three or four seasons ago I got multiple wickets against the same team. Remembering that, I was motivated to bowl wicket to wicket and it worked out.”

Figures of two for three from Donnie Charles and a wicket each from off-spinners Henrik McIntosh and Joshua Gilbert complemented Riley’s efforts.

Nevertheless, a chase that for many would have appeared routine proved a mountainous task for the home side as Bridge batters mimicked their opponents, making the centre appear as an explosive-filled minefield.

A 22-run opening partnership between captain Adrian Burrows (five) and Patrick Dill (four) offered initial hope, only to have both batters depart without addition to the score.

No 3 Joshua Gilbert and No 4 Riley added 18, carrying the score to 40, when the latter was bowled by a Jabari Butterfield delivery that skidded through, catching Riley going back.

Jason Smith quickly followed with a two-ball duck, creating questions as to whether Bridge would again pluck defeat from the jaws of victory.

Those questions persisted as wickets fell with regularity while the scoreboard ticked forward slowly, creating intense anxiety within the Bridge camp, yet hope remained.

“I think I read something you wrote at the beginning of the season about how we always play with a positive spirit,” said coach Shane Hollis. “And it’s true. Yesterday the spirit was there and again today it was there, even as we lost wickets towards the end.

“Regardless of the situation, the guys stayed positive.”

Questions were still being asked when No 9 Samari Tavares-Place was bowled with the scores level and former captain Noel Woods, nursing a broken left middle finger, bravely took guard, needing to survive at least one ball from Koa Lightbourne.

Not until Joshua Gilbert (21 not out), who had stood resolute since entering at No 3, stroked the winning single off Shaquille Pitcher did the reality of an actual victory compute, triggering celebrations among trophy-starved players and fans.

For Gilbert, the result was satisfying on several fronts, earning reward and respect for a club long regarded as subpar, while also affirming himself as a leader with legitimate talent.

Meanwhile, as celebrations continued, including a team leap off Somerset Bridge, club president Teresa Burrows revealed what she believed was the true reason for the win.

“We debuted our new jerseys yesterday and today, and every time we put on a new kit we win,” she said. “New kit. New attitude. It took us until the end of the season but we did it.”

Despite being denied more silverware Cleveland captain Mackih McGowan was unaffected.

“It was a close game and we would have liked to have won, but that’s cricket.

“On the plus side we were able to get some of our young players involved in a match of real consequence, giving them quality time and experience at this level.”