Northampton Exiles clinched a dramatic victory over Holtwhites Trinibis with just two balls remaining of their Saracens Herts League Division Three clash.

Saturday's nail-biting conclusion saw final pair Harit Patel and Steve Langellier hold firm to ensure victory by the narrowest of margins in a repeat of the tense finale the previous week over Southgate Adelaide.

Victory was clinched in the final over when Patel took two runs to mid-wicket off Holtwhites’ skipper Habib Younis.

The Exiles were made to work for the breakthrough after putting the visitors in on a damp pitch and it was 11 overs before Amar Patel took the first of three catches.

The attack of Haroon Akhtar (four for 48) and Langellier (three for 42) reduced Holtwhites to 54 for six before a rallying performance from Daniel Bonner (29) and Abdul Rehman (41) steadied the ship.

Rehman and Saleem Masood made 21 for the ninth wicket before falling in the same over to Harit Patel (three for 33) as Holtwhites were dismissed for 148.

The Exiles began their chase with an opening stand of 35 before Dave Taylor was caught by wicketkeeper Bonner off Younis (three for 37).

Amar Patel (47) batted admirably to put Exiles within sight of victory before Masood (five for 33) struck.

Masood twice took two wickets in an over to rapidly halt the home side’s progress as they slumped from 116 for three to 127 for seven.

Shaun Lawler (10), struggling with a painful shoulder, batted lower down the order but held firm with Harit Patel (9 not out) for eight overs before Younis had Lawler caught in the slips.

Younis was celebrating again shortly after, dismissing Jason Goldman (0) with a yorker in the same over to leave the Exiles on the edge.

Langellier faced the final over and scrambled home with a single to leave Patel to take the final runs for a tense one-wicket Exiles victory.

Northampton Exiles Seconds looked the more impressive side in a draw with Holtwhites Trinibis Seconds in Division Eight.

The Exiles started well with useful scores from Bernie Bower (23), Steve Plum (45) and Suhail Chaudhury (55) and eventually saw their innings close on 221 for eight.

The Trinibis openers faced the Exiles’ spin attack early on but it was the seam bowling of Corin Hosier (four for 64) and Dharmesh Patel (four for 48) who did the damage for the Exiles, taking all eight wickets to fall. Trinibis managed to see out the game though, and closed on 191 for eight.

There was an impressive win for the Exiles Thirds as they thumped Sawbridgeworth Fourths by seven wickets in Division 11.

Zain Mughal (five for 10) stole the show but was aided by fine figures from Ali Awan (two for 8), Ishmail Rafique (two for 9) and Jason Manning (one for 17).

Shahjeel Bhutt (58 not out) led the Exiles reply as they stormed to their target, reaching 78 for three in 16 overs.