Across 95 balls Manchester Originals controlled their opponents and their own nerves to stand on the verge of defending what had appeared a hopelessly small target and stealing a remarkable victory.
Chasing 121, Trent Rockets found themselves needing 11 off the final five, with Richard Gleeson to bowl it and Lewis Gregory, their captain, on strike.
It took until the 196th ball of the final for the contest to slip off its knife-edge. Gregory brilliantly flicked it over square leg for six, the next went fine for four, and a single saw his side home with two balls to spare.
They had seemed to be motoring gently to victory at 97 for five, but a few minutes later it was 107 for eight and black-clad fielders were cavorting around the outfield in celebration of another catch in the deep and the faint, delicious but ultimately short-lived scent of glory.