History will show Big O claimed back-to-back premierships with a thrilling one-wicket victory, the winning runs coming with just three balls to spare.

However, that is only part of what was truly a pulsating story in a game that saw more twists and turns than a contortionist’s convention.

The day literally had everything and there was drama both on and off the field.

Twice the match was interrupted by rain and it could have easily been a third time if not for the persistence of the umpires who simply wanted to see what had been an absorbing final decided on the pitch and not with calculators in hand.

As the rain fell down, confusion reined as to the implication of the rules and just where Big O had to be at certain stages of their innings (if at all) in the pursuit of the 109 set for victory.

Was it the fact the combined total of 217 runs from 80 overs that had the biggest impact on the match, as batsmen from both sides struggled for runs?

Who would have imagined the highest score in such a decider would be 26 and it would come from a member of the losing side.

Runs were so precious that one bowler had just 12 taken from his 10 overs, while a rival saw just 14 leaked from his full allotment.

Both teams suffered double blows without any addition to the total, at the same time handing ascendancy to the opposition.

Was it the injuries suffered by two of Harden’s key players that looked to have rendered them useless in terms of bowling that was the killer blow, only to see one of them take the pill and almost lift his side to victory?

In the end it became a matter of runs needed and balls remaining, the ratio of which should have favoured the batting side.

However, this was no ordinary game, and with one over to play, Big O needed seven for a tie and eight for victory.

Two untimely wides reduced the margin to six and when a player regarded by many opponents as a genuine ‘bunny’ was able to split the field with consecutive fours and dart through for two runs on both occasions, the final act in this most dramatic of dramas had been played out.