Dunnington won the Hunters York and District League Premier Knockout Trophy for an unprecedented fourth successive year after the most thrilling final seen in the 27-year history of the competition.

The importance of accurate scoring was emphasised when the Pickering innings ended on an identical score to that of Dunnington who had made 210 for 7.

The scorebooks had to be scrutinised before Dunnington were declared winners on the countback rule which showed they had scored 39 runs in the first ten overs while Pickering had only scored 37.

Batting first, Dunnington made a shaky start as Hamid Khan fell for a duck to a catch by 'keeper Chris Nicholls, who then disposed of Alvin Kallicharan for four.

Opener Simon Kellett had made 23 before he became Craig Aconley's second victim as Dunnington lost their third wicket at 41.

Former West Indian Test star Collis King was then joined by fellow Caribbean Harwood Williams and the pair embarked on an entertaining fourth wicket stand which had added 142 when Williams was lbw to Mark Shepherd for 62 off 71 balls.

The same bowler soon accounted for King who had made 87 off 92 balls when he was caught by Craig Aconley who, by this time, had completed a fine eight over spell to earn 2 for 20.

Dunnington then moved to 210 for 7 off their 40 overs.

When Pickering replied, Shepherd was an early victim in a hostile spell by Joe Grant.

Brian Leckenby was then joined by Colin Frank in a good second wicket stand of 68 until Frank (25) was caught by Williams on the square leg boundary in Dave Kitching's first over.

Hamid Khan kept the batsmen quiet and captured two wickets in an important spell which put Dunnington on top but Chris Nicholls tipped the scales back in Pickering's favour with 32 off 32 balls.

He and Leckenby had added 59 to take Pickering into a winning position at 205 for 4 with two overs to go but Grant then took a return catch to send back Nicholls and panic set in.

Dunnington skipper Simon Kellett took the responsibility of bowling the crucial final over and this proved to be a master stroke.

Pickering, having lost only five wickets, needed a mere five runs to win the game but Kellett had Aconley stumped by Paul Miles and then Chris Hugill was run out to level the wickets lost.

Further dot balls left Leckenby requiring a four off the final ball to level the scores. The Pickering opener duly obliged to take his own score to 99 not out, earning him the man of the match award, and level the scores.

However, it was in vain as the countback decision went in Dunnington's favour.

Dunnington: SA Kellett c Yates b Aconley 23; MH Khan c Nicholls b Aconley 0; AI Kallicharan c Nicholls b Smith 4; CL King c Aconley b Shepherd 87, H Williams lbw b Shepherd 62, C Burgess c Boyes b Smith 1; PA Miles not out 12; J Grant b Smith 0; SM Precious not out 1; Extras 20. Total 210-7. DNB: J McHale, D Kitching

Bowling: C Aconley 8-1-20-2; G Smith 8-0-42-3; M Shepherd 6-0-41-2; M Yates 8-1-37-0; TB Keane 8-0-40-0; AJ Boyes 2-0-19-0

Pickering: M Shepherd b Grant 3; B Leckenby not out 99; C Frank c Williams b Kitching 25; TB Keane b Khan 19; K Wilson b Khan 1; C Nicholls c&b Grant 32; C Aconley st Miles b Kellett 0; C Hugill run out 0; A J .Boyes not out 0; Extras 31. Total 210-7. DNB: G Smith & M Yates.

Bowling: J Grant 8-0-27-2; J McHale 8-0-32-0; SM Precious 8-0-40-0; D Kitching 7-0-43-1; MH Khan 8-0-39-2; SA Kellett 1-0-5-1

Dunnington won on ten over countback by 39 runs to 37.

Man of the Match: Brian Leckenby (Pickering).