Best Nationals showed great nerve to claim a last-ball victory over Martians and capture their first win of the season.

Best Nationals showed great nerve to claim a last-ball victory over Martians and capture their first win of the season.

In an exhilarating game last Tuesday, Nationals chased down 132 and needed 10 runs from the last 13 balls for victory.

Ben Wade added four, but wickets fell as Joe Helliwell made one, and Fred Sassin five.

The final delivery was a swing and a miss, but by the time the ball had passed the batsman, John Gribbon was already half way down the wicket, and lunged across the crease before the Martian wicket-keeper had a chance to take off the bails as the Best Nationals boys celebrated.

"It's our first season in the league and our first win, so it was a great moment for the whole team. We have been working so hard," said captain Dan Williams.

"I thought we would bowl them out cheaply, but we gave away 30 or 40 runs towards the end and our bowling fell apart a bit."

Martians won the toss and after choosing to bat, struggled early and could only muster 132-4 while Dan Williams taking 2-20, with Nathan Kelly and Bevan Young claimed a wicket apiece.

Young then played a superb knock of 53 not out as he and captain Williams put on 89 to take them towards victory.

Martians struck back and gave themselves an excellent opportunity, before the last over heroics saw Nationals home.

"I knew we had a great chance, but we lost an early wicket which caught us a bit cold," Williams added.

"In the end we needed 40 from four overs and I thought the chance had gone, but we hit a purple patch and finally got home on the last ball. It was so nerve-wracking for everyone, but we are all so pleased to have won."

Old Fallopians were too strong for Stoke Newington as a half century from Charlie Davis led them to a 22-run triumph.

After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Fallopians were determined to be aggressive, as Davies powered to 55 not out, while Philip Barrass bludgeoned 35, as they registered 149-6 from 16 overs with Winston Williams was the pick of the bowling attack with 2-29 from his allocation.

In reply, Newington struggled to build partnerships and could only make 126-6, with Williams the best performer with the bat, hitting 37, while Tim Castle was the standout performer with 2-24 from his three-over spell.

Victoria Park Juniors overpowered Junoon with bat and ball, beating their opponents by seven wickets.

Junoon were soon regretting their decision to bat as they slumped to 85-7 from 13 overs with Sunny the only batsman to make an impression, scoring 43, while Soyfur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers, snaring two wickets for 20 runs.

Park cantered to their target of 89 without losing a wicket, thanks to Scott Doody (48 not out) and James Panton (23 not out).

Tower Hamlets beat Regents after chasing down 111 with over two overs remaining.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Regents built kept wickets in hand, but struggled to hit out at the end of the innings.

Mike Farmer (48 not out) and Henrik Dinesen (38 not out) batted well, but their total was comfortable overhauled as Tofayal (33), Shak Hussain (33 not out) and Rahul Ahmed (20 not out) saw Hamlets home.

A solid all-round batting display from East London Community saw them to a 32 run win over London Tigers in the quarter-finals of the cup.

Batting first, East London amassed 148 with Waheed Khan (27 not out), Yasir Ghayas (29) and Altaf Haq (26), the main contributors.

Tigers struggled in reply and could only make 116-5 in reply, with Haq (2-33) and Mohit Gupta (2-23) bowling well.

A half century from in-form Dan Heapy helped Rose & Crown to a four-wicket win over London Fields.

Fields won the toss and batting first making 137-7 with Warren Todd (56) and Jason Lord (40) Fields' big scorers, as John Mortimer impressed with the ball taking 2-35.

In reply Rose & Crown batted well with Heapy the protagonist hitting 53, while Alan Hicks made 23 not out for the win.

Safe Skills showed great nerve with the ball to beat Victoria Park Juniors by three runs.

Skills were put in by Juniors and made 132, with Muhammad Usman retiring on 53, while Faisal Yaseen made 41 not out. Rahat put in a fine performance with the ball snaring four wickets for just 17 runs.

In reply Juniors struggled despite the best efforts of Charlie Challinor (40) and Khaled Mohammed (36).

Contenders beat Caledonian Conquerors for the second week running as Dee Alexander smashed 55 not out.

Conquerors won the toss and batted first, only made 118-6 with Fazal Mohammed the top performer hitting 50 not out.

Alexander was in tremendous form with the bat and his knock led his side home to win by six wickets.

Fixtures: Monday: Old Fallopians v London Tigers, Dynamite Ducks v London Wanderers, Old Ranwellians v Stoke Newington. Tuesday: Bengal Tigers v Best Nationals, Martians v Regents, Caledonian Conquerors v London Fields. Wednesday: Sky v Safe Skills, Victoria Lounge v Tower Cavaliers, Tufnell Parkians v Victoria Park Juniors. Thursday: Chats Palace v Rose & Crown, East London Community v Contenders. Junoon v Pacific.