LEEDS Caribbean won a thrilling Dales Council League Pool Paper Mills Cup final at Drighlington.

Chasing 222 for victory against Thornbury, Caribbean got over the line by two wickets with three balls to spare.

However, it didn't look like they would be chasing anywhere near as many on a sunny afternoon when Thornbury, who opted to bat, were 43-5 after good new-ball bowling by Shan Khan and Naveed Anwar.

But opener Yassir Abbas had survived the opening blast and was joined by Mohammed Humzah, and they repaired the damage with a partnership of 110 before Abbas was dismissed for 57.

With the score on 153-6, Gulrez Mehmood joined Mohammad Humzah for what turned out to be a remarkable end to the innings.

Mehmood blasted seven sixes and two fours in a 16-ball innings of 53 - believed to be the fastest half-century in a Dales Council League cup final - as 59 runs were added in the last three overs, including 25 from the last over.

That assault was understandably, the main talking point during the tea interval.

Thornbury had been 5-2 after four overs, and Caribbean also lost an early wicket before the prolific Wesley Bell and Abid Hussain started the rescue mission.

Two more wickets fell before the score passed 90, and Donovan Clayton joined opener Bell and pushed the score on at around five runs an over until, after surviving a couple of dropped catches, Bell was run out for 61.

Once again a second wicket fell in quick succession as skipper Shan Khan went for a duck just after the second drinks break, leaving Caribbean on 134-5, needing 88 from 13 overs.

Clayton pushed the score along but lost Anwar for nine in the 35th over, while man of the match Clayton fell for 69 in the 36th over.

With three wickets left, the target was now 30 off the last four overs.

Mohammed Naveed continued to frustrate the Thornbury attack, and 13 runs came from the 37th over, and five, plus the wicket of Mehtab Hussain, off the 38th, leaving just 12 to win from two overs.

Only two singles and a wide came from the 39th over, however, making it nine needed from the last over.

Naveed scrambled two from the first ball and then launched a huge six over long on to tie the scores before the third ball went for four byes to give Caribbean victory.