Despite Diggers having five wickets in hand when the winning runs were hit, the side had just nine balls up their sleeves.

The day started as positively as it finished when Diggers’ opening bowlers Neil Casey (1/34) and Danny Dossetor (2/35) removed one and two batsmen Matt Keenan (8) and Derek Opo (4) in the early stages of the match.

A fightback was in order with James Shelton (17) and Ben Jones (34) leading the charge.

The pair put on 27 runs together before Shelton fell to Trevor Richards (1/22).

Ben was joined by another Jones in Ted (0) but the partnership only yielded three runs as Mark Favell (1/19) struck.

However, the biggest Leagues Club partnership of the day followed as Jones and Kierren Williams (21) put on 43.

Jones was then finally removed – run-out by Casey – with the score on 96.

Dean Villata (14) and Sukhi Singh (12) were the best of the rest for Leagues Club as the Panthers posted 9/150.

Sean O’Rourke (2/32) picked up the best figures of the day for Diggers.

Brian Corner (8) fell to the bowling of Steve Parr (1/29) with the score on 19 which brought two of Diggers most experienced players together in Mark Favell and Trevor Richards.

A 44-run stand followed before Favell (30) fell to Singh (2/22).

Leagues Club romped right back into the match as Keenan (1/20) struck shortly after to have Diggers at 3/65.

However, Richards found a new partner in Brett Owen (21) and the pair set about ticking off the runs.

With the score on 134, Owen fell who was quickly joined in the stands by Dossetor (5).

But as he’d done all game, Richards kept a cool head before knocking over the winning runs.

By innings end, Richards had scored 64 runs – his seventh score of more than 50 for the year – from 88 balls.

Diggers will now meet the Coro Cougars – who have lost just one game all year – in the second grade decider next Saturday.

The match is set to be played at Westend Oval.