Tom Hopkins took a wicket with the final ball of the game to earn Cranham a thrilling three-run win over Kingsholm 2nds.

It was his fourth wicket of the game - he finished with 4-32 from eight overs - as the visitors claimed their sixth win of the season after dismissing Kingsholm 2nds for 182 in Division Four of the Gloucestershire Cricket League.

The medium-pacer, who has been playing for Cranham for 15 years, had Neil Rayer caught on the long-on boundary by Dawood Malakheal, a catch that proved anything but straightforward.

“He was about 10 yards in the boundary I think he caught it at the third attempt,” said Hopkins.

And while Hopkins was undoubtedly the hero, the 36-year-old insisted that the plaudits be shared around.

“Hamad Zazai bowled really well, James Pockett and Ian Richardson both took two wickets and Theo Nicholson took a really important wicket,” he said.

Kingsholm 2nds  enjoyed an opening partnership of 87 with Pavel Sharma leading the way with 53 from 48 balls.

Shaun Uthup made 22 and Hopkins said: “They went off like a rocket, it looked like we had no chance of winning.

“At no point did I think it would go the last ball. We didn’t think we had enough runs, there was a tiny boundary on one side, we thought we needed 250.”

Hopkins, who took 5-14 earlier in the season against Whitminster, was the sixth bowler used by skipper Alex Pockett, who had earlier made 27 after losing the toss.

Zazai top-scored with 62 from 65 balls while Joe Niblett chipped in with a quickfire 29 from 15 balls.

The result leaves Cranham in seventh place in the 10-team division, one place and 15 points behind Kingsholm 2nds.

Cranham host Charlton Kings 2nds on Saturday while Kingsholm 2nds got to bottom-of-the-table Cricklade.