HAMBLETON and Richmond-shire Area went down to Calderdale in the Under-15s County Cricket Cup final at Thirsk, with a nail-biting two-run loss.

After Calderdale chose to bat, Hambleton's bowlers had the Halifax side rocking on 61-5, but their batsman fought back with a solid sixth-wicket partnership.

Calderdale's lower order all chipped in, and were eventually all out for 150 in the final over of their 40.

Hambleton started poorly, losing their top-order wickets cheaply.

When opener James Clarkson went for 38, Hambleton were struggling on 95-6, and the game seemed to be slipping out of their grasp.

However, this seemed to spur Hambleton on, and runs suddenly started to flow.

The game was in the balance with Hambleton needing seven runs off the final over for victory.

Two runs were still required with one ball to go, but Hambleton's number ten, Joel Wilford, played onto his own stumps, to leave the home side on 148-9, and handing the title to Calderdale.

Updated: 08:56 Thursday, July 10, 2003