Whitehaven professional Terence Warde played the most important innings of his summer stint in West Cumbria to save his team from relegation.
The West Indian all-rounder hit a brilliant unbeaten century and in a thrilling finish guided them to a three wicket win at Haverigg with just seven balls to spare.
Whitehaven were already aware that fellow strugglers Lindal Moor had beaten Wigton and that only a win would save them from the drop out of the Cumbria League’s Premier Division.
Chasing Haverigg’s 196-8, Whitehaven had started badly as they lost skipper Stephen Holliday and opening partner Josh Fosterwith only four runs between them.
But then Warde (101no) and Jonathon Stewart (55) put together a third wicket partnership of 127 to get them back into the contest.
Four wickets then went cheaply and it took all of Warde’s skill and game management to get Whitehaven up to their target. They finally reached 198-7 off the fifth ball of the penultimate over.
Haverigg professional Sachin Jayawardena took 3-18 from ten very tight overs after he had top-scored in the home innings with 78. Lee Postlethwaite (31) gave best support.
Warde also showed his worth with the ball, taking 3-17 from his ten overs. Now Whitehaven will almost certainly be having discussions with his agent about bringing him back for 2022.
Lindal Moor will be playing Division One cricket next season after finishing just appoint behind Whitehaven as their final day win proved in vain.
Having wrapped-up the points pretty soon against Wigton, and seeing how Whitehaven were in early trouble, Lindal might have thought they had done enough.
They bowled-out Wigton for 91 in 39.2 overs with fourth change Lee Hogg taking 5-16 from 7.2 overs.
Only three Wigton batsmen reached double figures, headed by George Spark (23).
Professional Sawan Kankanange was 52 not out in Lindal’s winning reply of 92-4 which took them 24.1 overs.
The only other thing to be settled on the final day was who would finish runners-up to champions Furness – would it be Carlisle or Cockermouth?
In the end the game at Sandair was abandoned with Carlisle claiming runners-up spot but Cockermouth were left cursing the weather as they were in a very strong position.
In their 50 overs they had amassed 314-6 led by vice-captain Alex Grainger and professional Paul Hindmarch.
Grainger made 151 from 138 deliveries and included were 13 fours and five sixes, while Hindmarch blasted a remarkable 90 off only 44 balls and he hit 11 sixes and one four. Matthew Sempill chipped in with 44.
Because of interruptions for rain the Carlisle revised target was 233 from 30 overs but when they were finally rained-off they had scored 70-3 from 15.1 overs.
Workington have finished the season strongly and registered another victory when they beat Millom by seven wickets at the Valentine Ground.
Millom were bowled out for 75 with only opener Robert Thompson (13) and Robbie Wilson (18), batting at nine, reaching double figures. Ben Scott took 3-6 and Kristian Moffat had 3-19.
Dec Tyson took 3-20 to reduce Workington to 28-3 but Callum Sutton (26no) and pro Lahiru Dilshan (22no) took the hosts through to victory on 78-3 off 21.3 overs.
Workington will hope to complete their season in style this afternoon when they contest the Robin Dunn Memorial Trophy T20 finals day.
They play Dalton at Barrow cricket club while Furness are taking on Cockermouth at their own ground. The winners meet at Furness later in the day.
Champions Furness ended the League season on a winning note when they beat Cleator by 125 runs.
Choosing to bat first they made 229-6 in their 50 overs led by Nathan Waterston (70) and professional Promod Maduwantha (51).
In reply Cleator could only manage 104-9 with skipper Tom Sharpe top-scoring on 22. Garry Thompson took 4-15 for Furness.
The other game between Keswick and Dalton was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
