Another Watford Observer Fourteen14 Plate was added to Watford Grammar School for Boys’ trophy collection on Wednesday evening when their combined student and staff team triumphed by the narrowest of margins against Watford Town A.

Playing in their fifth final in seven years, the Rickmansworth Road school team did what was required off the last delivery by limiting their opponents to a single to win by just one run and add to their 2012, 2013 and 2015 successes in the limited overs competition.

Having won the toss and elected to bat at Abbots Langley’s ground, Watford Boys had to settle for a below-par total of 108-5 off their 14, eight-ball overs.

A scoring rate of fractionally less than a run a ball didn’t appear to be too testing for Town’s batsmen, but they were to be rocked by a superb spell from man-of-the-match Jack Doodson, who claimed three wickets in seven deliveries across two overs without conceding a run to leave Watford rocking at 30-3 in the fifth over of their reply.

Opener Syed Ali remained unmoved though, and in conjunction with Farhan Hussain (21), they set about regaining the initiative and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

The low asking rate meant scoring boundaries was not an essential route to victory, but the pair would have expected to have scored more than just the solitary four Ali struck in the six overs they were together. It also meant Watford Grammar remained very much in the contest, but with the knowledge that one expensive over could end their hopes.

However, those hopes were to be boosted off the third delivery of the 11th delivery when Ali (33) was caught trying to turn away a full toss from Grammar skipper Luke Samarasinghe to leave the score 75-4 at the end of that over.

Fourteen runs off Ben Beesley’s sole over then appeared to turn the tide back in Town’s favour, but Samarasinghe has been instrumental to the school’s success in the competition previously and was to play a key part again.

The Langleybury player picked up two wickets in three deliveries and conceded five runs in the 13th over, leaving Town needing 15 to win off the last eight balls.

Although Doodson saw Usman Majid (10 not out) edge his first delivery edged for just a fourth boundary of the innings, the bowler kept it sufficiently tight thereafter to leave the opposition needing three from the final delivery to win. They were to manage only a single.

Samarasinghe (23) and Doodson (18) had opened for Watford Grammar and after a cautious start, they both struck a six in the fifth over as the scoring rate accelerated.

However, both were to perish in quick succession midway through the innings as the 50 came up, leaving James Dyson to hold the innings together and try to help his team to a defendable target.

The number three made 33 before falling to Town skipper Asad Sajjad (1-24) off the fourth ball of the final over as Watford Grammar reached a total that proved to be enough - but only just.

The Watford Observer cricket competitions reach their conclusion next Thursday when reigning champions Kings Langley face neighbours Abbots Langley in the 50th Shield final.

The match will be played at Chipperfield Clarendon’s ground and play is due to start at 6.15pm.