Eastgate Cross Keys needed a six off the final ball to put a new name on the 1928 George Mann Cricket Cup but just failed and Wolsingham Mill Race were able to retain the trophy they won last season.

The Mill Race batted first and made a promising beginning with Richard Cramb making a useful sixteen before falling to Ian Tennick with the score on 33. Two balls later the Keys went wild with delight when Tennick bowled the Mill Race captain, Josh Wilkes, last season's man of the match in the final.

James Ivil scored quickly, which was what the Mill Race badly needed, but was well caught by Tennick off the bowling of Colin Perry. Opener Richie Hanlon eventually fell to a good ball from Adam Robinson after batting through sixteen overs for his 24. Wayne Booth's arrival at the wicket changed the game for he scored quickly to all parts of the field and went through to 28 not out. Ritchie Pringle contributed a useful late 11 so the Mill Race reached 136 when the overs ran out.

Eastgate's reply was completely the opposite as Willie Hutchinson and Chris Wearmouth raced through to 45 before Hutchinson fell to the first ball of the seventh over when he was caught and bowled by Richard Cramb.

Wearmouth continued to put the ball around the field until he was bowled on 24 trying to hit James Coxon out of the county.

After Alan Breeze had made 11 Raymond Snaith and Greg Dalton got together and looked likely to take the Keys to victory when they needed 24 runs from 18 balls. Dalton was scoring well and went for a massive six off Richie Hanlon. It looked to be going over but Wayne Booth pulled off a fine catch on the boundary.

Ian Tennick joined Snaith but was bowled without scoring, leaving Colin Perry to come in to try to make the necessary twenty runs. Snaith hit two fours and a two with Perry contributing three to add to a bye, leaving them needing a six off the last ball to win. Richard Cramb bowled and Snaith smashed the ball but, instead of sailing over the boundary, it found the hands of Simon Campbell.

Mrs Nancy Mann, the widow of Alan Mann, presented umpire, Michael Manuel and Rob Dawson with trophies to mark their willing work. She then presented the runners-up trophies to Willie Hutchinson, Alan Breeze, Adam Robinson, Ian Tennick, Colin Perry, Chris Wearmouth, Raymond Snaith, Greg Dalton and Colin Hope.

The winners trophies went to Peter Booth, Wayne Booth, Simon Campbell, James Coxon, Richard Cramb, Richie Hanlon, James Ivil, Richie Pringle and the captain, Josh Wilks, who also collected the Geirge Mann Cup.

The Alan Mann Memorial trophy for the Man of the Match in the final was adjudged by Michael Manuel and was presented by Nancy Mann to Wayne Booth.