Cleveland 279 St. David's successfully retained the Eastern Counties Cup on Saturday, but not without having to withstand a furious battle against Cleveland County.

In fact, it was the determination and fight of the challengers that made the match one for the history books, as they gave the champs all they could handle when it appeared their cause had been lost.

Sent in to bat on a placid wicket offering little assistance to the bowlers, St. David's forced their opponents to toil in the field for some five hours before giving them what looked a forlorn opportunity to chase a big target.

Albert Steede and Philip Pitcher got the Islanders off to a solid start, putting on 88 for the first wicket, before Steede was trapped lbw by Courtney Trott, the sixth bowler used by Cleveland, as skipper Aaron Adams constantly juggled his attack while seeking a breakthrough.

Chris Foggo (four) soon followed Steede back to the pavilion and when Pitcher fell for a bludgeoning 62, caught by Merkell Smith off Trott, the challengers' hopes heightened.

However, captain Clay Smith and cohort Lionel Cann had other thoughts. Smith stabilised matters with a uncharacteristically subdued 68 that included five fours and two sixes.

However, while Smith batted with caution, Cann was anything but, slamming what ranks as one of the fastest half centuries in Eastern Counties history. Cann blasted seven sixes and four fours in a 17-ball knock that accounted for 56 runs before the decision was made to declare with the total 297 and the clock reading 3.45 p.m.

Johnny Richardson was the top bowler for Cleveland with three for 64.

Despite a shortage of time, Cleveland set about their task of chasing down the sizable target with vigour and even the loss of opener Curtis Jackson (15) at 37 failed to deter them.

Adams led from the front, taking a page out of Cann's book as he battered a clueless attack into oblivion, smashing seven fours and eight sixes, the only fault being that he fell four runs short of a deserved century.

Adams found a willing partner in Jason Simons, the duo plundering 149 for the second wicket, as Simons tallied 65.

Smith, like Adams found need to shuffle his bowlers in hopes of clamping down on the run rate and in time succeeded, as wickets fell with some regularity after the removal of Adams and Simons.

Peter Philpott (33) and Anthony Bascome (23) gave added hope, but once gone the tail collapsed and in the end they fell 18 runs short.

Cann rounded off a fine day with a five wicket haul that, combined with his earlier batting display, earned him Man-of-the-Match honours.

Gone for six: Lionel Cann hits out for one of his seven sixes during a whirlwind unbeaten knock of 56. Cann also claimed five wickets to take Man-of-the-Match honours during Saturday's Eastern Counties encounter with Cleveland County.