Relieved was how Royston skipper Paul Harris felt after an extremely narrow victory at the weekend.

Following his side’s three-run CCA Division Junior 1 South win over Linton, Harris said: “Having made a great start with the bat only to then collapse to 143 all out was naturally disappointing.

“However, we did feel that the target was still defendable given our bowling attack.

“If we had been more clinical at taking some of the chances that Linton gave us, then the game would probably not have gone down to the wire, however a win is a win.”

Having won the toss, Royston batted and openers Rory Harper (21) and Mick Miller (27) got off to a flyer.

Both fell leaving the score at 59-2, Paul Miller and Martin Leary then looked to consolidate.

The two looked set for a serious partnership, but it was not to be as a mix-up saw Leary (16) run out by a distance.

Wickets then began to fall regularly, the score moving from 78-2 to a disappointing 143 all out.

In response, Linton began their innings watchfully as the tight bowling of Richard Temple and Philip Hall proved to frustrate them.

Pressure told and Hall was rewarded with two wickets, both lbw.

This brought Ajay Joseph to the crease. He looked to bat aggressively and was fortunate to survive some early pressure.

He soon passed his half century with the Linton total on around 70.

The introduction of Matt Gillham into the attack saw the partnership of Alex Flynn and Joseph broken as Joseph was caught and bowled by Gillham for 65. Wickets subsequently tumbled, largely as a result of some fine bowling by Gillham, who ended with impressive figures of 10-1-32-5.

With two wickets remaining Harris came into the attack and claimed James Gordon’s wicket with Linton only requiring 10 runs for victory.

The penultimate over saw number 11 batsman Tom Macer ran himself out to hand Royston the win.