Watford Grammar School for Boys’ dominance of the Watford Observer Fourteen14 Plate has continued after they won the competition for a third time in four years following a thrilling nine-wicket victory over a youthful Hemel Hempstead Town at Met Police Bushey’s Aldenham Road ground tonight.

Although the winning margin may sound comprehensive, it was anything but as an enthralling contest played in increasingly deteriorating conditions went down to the final delivery of the 28th, eight-ball over of the match.

Hemel needed to restrict their opponents to a single to secure the victory but man-of-the-match Luke Samarasinghe clipped Brad Finch (one for 31 off two overs) away for four to complete another victory for the school side.

Chasing Hemel’s score of 156 for six, the Grammar School began their reply in steady drizzle. With seven overs needed to constitute a match, there was increasing doubt whether the final would be completed. But both sides deserved credit for battling through the remainder of the contest with a wet ball and in poor light to help ensure the encounter would not need to be rearranged.

Hepled by Hemel conceding five wides costing 20 under the competition’s four runs for a wide rule in the opening two overs, Watford were well up at the halfway point of their reply as Samarasinghe and James Dyson saw them to 78 without loss after seven overs.

However, Hemel’s bowling had already begun to tighten up by that stage and with three overs remaining, their opponents needed 45 to win off the last 24 balls.

Captain Samarasinghe, who plays his club cricket for Langleybury and struck 101 in the semi-final victory over Aldenham, hit the only six of the innings off the penultimate delivery of Jack Doodson’s (nought for 31 off three) third over to ease the pressure to a degree, but his side still required 32 from the final 16 deliveries.

Ed Langley kept the penultimate over relatively tight at the outset but then four byes and, in particular, seven no balls proved costly as the target was reduced to 13 off the last over.

Once again the start to the over gave Hemel grounds for optimism, but then Dyson struck a boundary off delivery six before Finch conceded a wide of his next ball, leaving the Grammar School needing two off as many balls.

Watford’s opening pair deserved to carry their bat but, in another twist, Dyson fell for 48 off the penultimate delivery as Finch (one for 31 off two) picked up Hemel’s sole wicket. Crucially though, the batsmen had crossed, meaning the impressive Samarasinghe was to face the final ball of the match. He duly delivered what was required to see his side over the finish line and finished on 73 not out.

Earlier, Hemel had been put in after losing the toss. They started steadily with Tom Elborne (8) and Doodson (23) falling before the midway point as their side reached 57 for two after seven overs, the last delivery of which saw Aaron Wilson (13) hit the first maximum of the match.

Three more were to follow from talented prospect Langley, who went on to make 51 and helped lay the platform for Hemel to score strongly off the final four overs and post a good-looking total.

Watford Grammar's last 32 balls in the field went for 65 runs as Will Langley chipped in with seven while Anjam Khan (16 not out) and May (12 not out) provided further late impetus. For much of the closing stages of the match, it looked like it may be enough but ultimately Hemel were to fall just short.