Box officially cemented their place in the division with a 19 run home win against Bradford Town on Saturday although with 10 overs to go, defeat for the home side was very much on the cards.

After losing the toss, Box were asked to bat first and the Bradford openers Harrington and Gerrish bowled excellent opening spells. Box run machine Neil Pettit was first to fall with only six on the board when Harrington (3-32) forced him to edge behind to Gerrish at first slip.

The second wicket soon followed Gerrish (3-33) clean bowled Phil Oliver for eight. Some resistance was met from Bultitude and Hayward in the middle order but Bultitude (10) became Gerrish’s second victim, trapped LBW. Trotman fell the very next ball to Gerrish to leave the hosts floundering on 39 for 4.

Soon after this became 56 for 6 as Harrington picked up his second and third victims in Bray (1) and Bond (4). Crawford and Hayward however brought some sensibility to the scoreline before Crawford (27) lofted a catch to Pike at Mid off from the bowling of S.Edwards (3-24).

Rob Styles (23) and Hayward (27) gave the score a healthier look with some lusty blows. Edwards bowling Styles and Hayward falling to Laws (1-30). Dolman was last man out for 5 and Bryant was not out 8 as Box finished on 134 all out.

Bradford reply got off to a bad start when Crawford forced Laws to edge behind to a lightning catch from Bryant for a duck, But Captain James Edwards and Matthew Harrington played some good solid strokes to take Bradford to 70 for 1 with only 65 needed to win.

Edwards (38) was eventually out to Dolman (1-17), with Trotman taking a slip catch and Harrington (29) fell in the same fashion from the bowling of Styles (3-37).

At 90 for 3, Bradford were still in the driving seat, despite, soon after Styles bowling Gerrish (2) and Pike being run out without facing from a lightning throw from Marcus Bray. At 115 for 5, Bradford only needed 20 runs to win with over ten overs to go.

Crawford returned to the attack and immediately took three quick wickets in the same over. Taylor (1) was trapped LBW, Edwards fell for a duck, clean bowled two balls later and Moss was bowled for a duck also at the end of the over.

The complexity of the game had changed. Just two wickets were needed for an unlikely Box victory. Styles forced Ricketts (24) to hole out at deep mid wicket and Crawford wrapped the game up with the first ball of his next over to trap Wade LBW for a duck.

Bradford finishing on 115 all out having been 115 for 5. The last 5 wickets fell for no runs in 13 balls, with Crawford taking 4 wickets in 7 balls.

"An unbelievable finish to the game," said Box captain Dave Crawford.

"At one stage we were just looking to get as many bowling points we could after suffering with the bat, but the team never gave up throughout. I guess its never over until its over, every ball counts."