Last evening's zonal club match under lights at Newlands saw the Western Gladiators squeak home by one wicket against the Academy Panthers off the last ball of the match.

The final over began with 6 runs needed to overtake the Panthers total of 219/6 (scored in 45 overs). Wickets fell off the first two balls and 4 runs were still required with the last pair at the crease when Ryan Bailey ran in for the final delivery, which UCT captain Ryan Ten Doeschate dispatched into the Railway Stand to grab a thrilling victory for his team. Ten Doeschate's cameo innings of 36 not out off 32 deliveries saved the day for the Gladiators, who lost wickets at regular intervals after a 98-run 2nd wicket partnership between Graeme Smith (63 off 48 balls) and Andrew Puttick (52 off 81) had put them firmly on the road to victory.

Earlier a fine innings of 95 not out by matriculant J-P Duminy (121 balls 5 sixes and 3 fours) had rescued the Panthers from a parlous 46/3. He received able assistance from Ryan Bailey (28), Dominic Ridley (27) and Faizel Simon (24). Opening the innings, Alistair Gray (who later took 3 for 38 off 9 overs with his legbreaks) scored 23.

Panthers 219/6 lost to Gladiators (222/9) by one wicket. Gladiators 8 points Panthers 2 bonus points (thanks to the narrowness of the defeat).

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