A SEASON of despair at Atherstone Town CC took a decided turn for the better when the West Midlands club captured the Nuneaton Thursday League Knockout Cup in a thrilling finish at Attleborough.

Frustrated after allowing Griff & Coton to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in their league match-up the previous Saturday, Atherstone Town seized at the first offering of payback with a three-wicket victory. Needing to score ten runs from the last of the 18 overs to pass the opposition side's 120 for seven, Atherstone scored six from the first five balls before Dave Blower crowned a captain's innings of 60 not out with the decisive blow through mid-wicket.

The presentation of the Tommy Hilditch Trophy sparked wild celebrations among the Atherstone Town supporters that were said to have lasted throughout the night. "This was a big boost for everyone's spirits," Noel Gibbons, the player-coach who scored a vital 31, said. "We were all a bit low after that bad run in the league. I don't see us having a problem with relegation but hopefully this result will pick us up for the remainder of the second half."

Ryan Steede, who had struggled with fitness recently in his most demanding season as a senior cricketer, claimed one for 25 from five overs and made two at number four before he was bowled. However, the significance of the one wicket that the young Bermudian claimed would be seen a few days later when Griff & Coton suffered their second crushing defeat.

To show that England, against India in NatWest Series final that same day, and Bermuda, against United Arab Emirates in 1994, are not the only teams who can score in excess of 300 batting first and lose, Griff & Coton amassed 300 for two against Dorridge, the league leaders, with D. Hope, Steede's victim for seven on Thursday, making 123 and his opening partner, S. Bourne, 94 not out. But Dorridge stormed back to score 301 for eight and, with a 48-point lead over the third-placed team, look to be worthy representatives in the Birmingham & District League third division next season.

Atherstone Town, on the other hand, will be happy merely with the status quo as, after a losing draw away to Bronze on Saturday, they are one spot out of the relegation positions at third from bottom.

Bronze struggled to 43 for three after being sent in but a century partnership for the fourth wicket provided the foundation for a total of 221 for eight in 50 overs. With points at a premium for Atherstone, they were on course for a big win at 100 for two with 20 overs remaining and Gibbons amid a third successive influential innings. But Bronze, who moved above Atherstone to seventh, responded with heart led by the bowling of Lloyd Tennant, the former Leicestershire paceman.

Atherstone closed on 188 for seven with Gibbons making 54 and Blower 67 but it was left to Steede to score 13 not out at number nine, after taking none for 24 in seven overs earlier, to salvage an eight-point day. "I'm still very pleased with Ryan and his bowling," Gibbons said. "But he is not putting one and one together with his batting, especially in these conditions where you often get late swing."

Gibbons finished his innings with a runner, after his chronic back injury flared up, and, as fate would have it, he was run out. "I'm not out," he joked, but the former Bermuda all-rounder would gladly give up a few points on his average if Atherstone Town could avoid the drop. "Most of our problems have come from the unavailability of key players," he said. "Either through work or vacation ... yes, vacation. But I'm looking forward to our game on Saturday against Kenilworth, one of the teams we beat in the first half."

OJ Pitcher plans to return to action on Saturday in the Surrey County League against Byfleet. The 19-year-old, who has been joined by his parents ahead of his trip back to Bermuda to try out for Cup Match, watched from the sidelines as Pyrford clinched their eleventh consecutive victory.

The most recent triumph, away to Thames Ditton, was not without its pitfalls as Pyrford slipped to 80 for six chasing 120. At that point, Roland Butcher was given out caught at slip before the fielder, after the former England player stood his ground, admitted that the ball did not carry. Butcher went on to make 60 not out and shepherd a three-wicket victory.

Chris Foggo, batting at number four, made 15 before giving a return catch to one of the two spinners who opened the Thames Ditton bowling. "They were pretty good," Foggo said. "They bowled 40 straight overs between them and had us in a bit of trouble before Roland took charge.

Foggo, who has been joined in England by his mother and sister, is confident that he can arrest his recent slide. "I'm comfortable when I'm in there batting," he said. "I've just had a bit of bad luck."

In the Surrey Championship third division, Southern Railway were held to a winning draw away to Alleyn Old Boys. The home side amassed 229 for seven in 55 overs and Railway replied with 201 for seven in 42 overs with Yours Truly out for 17.

The leaders, Dulwich, were playing and winning virtually next door and have opened a nine-point gap over Old Wimbledonians and 30 over Railway. A home match against Ashford, the seventh-placed team, tomorrow is starting suddenly to look like must win.