HOLDERS York managed to hang on to the Minster Enginering Senior Charity Cricket Cup by the skin of their teeth in a thrilling final against Clifton Alliance.

The showpiece at Clifton Park went down to the last ball, with York needing an edged boundary to carry them home.

Alliance won the toss and elected to bat against a York side featuring nine Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League players.

Clifton accumulated runs slowly, held in check by tight bowling and fielding. Rich Partington, with 26, and Joel Hughes, who made 37, kept the scoreboard ticking over before captain John Gilham hit a rapid 28 not out in the closing overs to take the total to 133-6. Dan Woods returned 2-40.

In reply, York lost an early wicket but Liam McKendry and Duncan Snell came together and lifted the score quickly, McKendry making 45 off 50 balls and Snell 43 off 42 balls.

But they were dismissed in quick succession and what looked like being an easy victory became a struggle as Clifton tightened their bowling and fielding.

Coming into the last over, ten runs were needed and, at the last ball, two to tie or three to win. A streaky four took York to a six-wicket victory at 135-4.

Hughes was named man of the match for his 37 with the bat and for his bowling in the tense final over which almost produced victory for Clifton.

Trophies were presented by Ian Reynolds of sponsors Minster Engineering.