Cup holders PHC pulled off one of the closest victories in recent times to become the first club in over a year to successfully defend the Western Counties Cup as they defeated challengers Somerset Bridge by 19 runs at White Hill Field on Saturday.

During a highly entertaining contest which saw the pendulum swing as much as the ball seamed off a lively pitch, Bridge made PHC sweat it out by threatening to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat right to the death.

Inspiring PHC?s close win was Western Stars guest player Jekon Edness who topped the champions batting with a timely half-century, gloved three catches behind the wicket and then executed the game-clinching stumping of Denzill Dill in the 45th over to seal the win in front of a large gathering.

?It was tight and everybody was panicking. But it felt great to play a part in that dismissal and pull it off for PHC,? Edness smiled afterwards.

With Bridge?s confidence soaring after PHC had lost their first four batsmen in five overs with only 12 runs on the board, Edness and Stars team-mate Hasan Durham produced the game?s highest partnership of 82 runs in 22 overs for the fifth wicket.

It was a stand that provided much needed stability to the champions? innings and ultimately put the match beyond Bridge?s reach.

?Once we saw their opening bowlers (Corvette Lambert and Dill) off we knew it would become a lot easier,? Edness continued. ?We knew the longer we remained at the crease the easier it would get and the team would be better off.?

Aiding PHC?s middle-order revival was a decision to take Dill and Lambert out of the attack at a time when the champions? batsmen were finding it difficult to get behind the line of balls lifting off a good length and moving both in the air and off the seam.

Edness added another 32 runs for the eighth wicket with Kevin Tucker (14 not out) and then the latter an additional 16 runs with Shoron Hunt (seven) to provide PHC?s bowling attack with a more respectable total to defend.

Edness stroked a polished 53 off 90 balls in two hours and 29 minutes before his full-blooded drive to the covers struck Corvette Lambert in the throat and somehow stuck in the fielder?s hands as he crouched over.

?I think this had to be one of my better knocks for the season,? Edness assessed. ?It wasn?t easy batting out there on a difficult wicket with the ball popping up.?

A few spilled chances and overthrows also helped PHC?s cause.

Earlier, Lambert and Dill wreaked havoc upon PHC?s top order, claiming the first four wickets to tumble with the latter nearly seizing a hat-trick after dismissing Ming and Jeremy Fray (0) with successive deliveries. The champions lost three wickets on ten, two on 94 and their last two batsmen on 143.

Like Dill, Bridge off-spinner Jermaine Salaam nearly grabbed a hat-trick after dismissing Durham (30) and Kyle Lightbourne (0) in two balls in the 27th over. Durham hit four fours off 45 balls during his one hour and 35 minute stay at the crease while next high score for the champions was in the extras column with Bridge yielding 28 runs to PHC?s total.

Dill led the Bridge bowling with four for 23 off ten overs with three maidens while Corvette Lambert and Salaam took two for 22 and two for 41 respectively.

Vernon Eve, debuting as a colt for Bridge, picked up his first Western Counties scalp when he had Neil Anglin caught at long on by Corvette Lambert in the 42nd over to bring PHC?s innings to a close.

Presented the task of scoring 144 for victory at 2.8 runs per over, Bridge also found themselves in early trouble at 31 for five after 15 overs with Tucker, Lightbourne, Anglin and Hunt making the breakthroughs.

With only Nakia Smith (20) offering stubborn resistance in the middle order, a varied PHC attack worked around the Stars player until he became the seventh wicket to fall in the 28th over, holing out Gerald Simons at extra cover to place the champions firmly in the driver?s seat. Smith hit two fours off 43 balls in one hour and 21 minutes.

With victory well within sight, removing Bridge?s tail should have been a formality for PHC.

Dill and 15-year-old Berkeley Institute student Bilal Lambert, however, had other ideas as they set about producing a last-gasp fightback to leave the outcome on a razor?s edge.

Together the pair frustrated the PHC attack with some sensible batting and excellent running between the stumps, producing 49 runs for the tenth wicket in 13 overs to take Bridge within striking distance of what would have been an improbable win.

Dill scored 22 runs off 40 balls before he was the last wicket to fall, stumped by Edness as he skipped down the crease to a Simons? delivery, while the pint-sized Lambert, batting with a maturity beyond his teenage years, remained unbeaten on ten after facing 29 deliveries.

Anglin led the PHC bowling with three for 30 while Lightbourne and Hunt claimed two for ten off ten overs with four maidens and two for 28 respectively, the champions giving up 44 runs in extras.

PHC will rest their crown on the line when they meet Willow Cuts in the August 20 final at the same venue.