St.George's 237-8 Just as he did in the semi-final against Western Stars, tailender Gregg Foggo hit the winning runs in the final over as St. George's retained the Knockout Cup with a thrilling two-wicket win at White Hill Field yesterday.

Needing to score jut three in the last over, after David Adams had hit eight in the penultimate over to ease the pressure, Foggo drove Andre Smith to the mid-wicket boundary for four off the first ball to seal the victory.

It was a triumph that had looked out of reach for the cup holders when, set a target of 236 by Cleveland, they started poorly and slumped to 36-3 after just nine overs with Dexter Smith, Ryan Steede and Eugene Foggo all going cheaply.

But Cleveland had to wait another 11 overs for their fourth wicket and by that time the East Enders had fought their way back into the game thanks to a fourth wicket stand of 54 between Dean Minors and Clevie Wade.

Minors went for 32, caught smartly at short-leg by Carlton Smith, but St.

George's battled on, as a stand of 43 for the fifth wicket between Wade (35) and captain Clay Smith (57) took them into the final 20 overs still in with a chance of victory.

In those last 20 overs St.George's needed to score at a run-a-ball and the tension was beginning to mount.

Ricky Hodsoll chipped in with a useful 42 in the middle order as he and his captain added 84 for the sixth wicket between the 33rd and 47th overs.

Smith's departure on 217 -- caught behind -- signalled the loss of three wickets in two overs as Hodsoll was caught at long-off by Aaron Adams in the next over and then in that same over Herbie Bascome was run out by a direct hit from Cecil Pitcher.

Pressure began to tell on Cleveland late in the match as Grant Smith conceded 14 (four wides) in his second over while Jason Simons' one over included three no-balls at a crucial stage.

Andre Smith took three for 34 and Jermaine Postlethwaite two for 56.

"I never doubted we could do it,'' said Smith afterwards. "As long as myself and Ricky Hodsoll were at the wicket the better chance we had.

"I figured they got too many to start with, so I sent Ryan in with Dexter to hit the ball a bit, though I knew the game would be won by Dean, Clevie, myself and Ricky in the middle order. Our middle order had to do it, especially after that early breakthrough.'' Smith played a true captain's innings, picking his shots carefully as he calculated the run rate, never panicking.

"I had a lot more patience, that was the difference,'' he explained.

"In the Stars (semi-final) game we won by one wicket and today was another close one. But we were the champions and anyone who wanted to take the trophy had to beat us. We showed some guts when it mattered most.'' Cleveland, having been sent in, adjusted their batting line-up for the one-day game with Allan Douglas opening with captain Aaron Adams. And it paid off as the pair put on 75 for the first wicket in 13 overs.

Douglas was third out on 123 in the 25th over for a game high knock of 88, from four sixes and six fours. Contributions in the middle-order from Johnny Richardson (20), Posthethwaite (27), Jason Simons (22) enabled Cleveland to post a respectable total.

There were four run outs in the Cleveland innnings as Clevie Wade was the only St. George's bowler to take more than one wicket, finishing with two for 50 from nine overs.