Harden were crowned Queens of the Pitch for the second time in as many years with a thrilling one-run victory over perennial winners Stock Girls.

Harden, competing for the first time 12 months ago, signalled both their intentions and ability with a win over Cougars in the 2006/07 final and entered Sunday’s event as firm favourites.

The Maryanne Fitzgerald-led side was the first through to the final, having won all three preliminary games, while Stock Girls survived a late scare from carnival debutantes Totally Stumped in the last pool match of the day to take their place in the 4pm decider.

Batting first, Stock Girls were in trouble from the outset with Karen Lemon striking twice in the first over, Kate Menz removing Emma Deep in the second and Fitzgerald removing the dangerous Belinda Holt in the third.

At that stage Stock was 4-13 and it appeared Harden was cruising towards an easy victory. A stubborn partnership between Stock Girls, Sam Doidge and Sue Caldwell gave the village side hope as they stayed together for the next three overs.

Caldwell eventually retired on 22, while Doidge remained unbeaten on 16.

With 52 runs needed for victory, Harden began well taking 13 off the opening two overs.

Fitzgerald and Menz were given the task of opening the innings and looked solid until Fitzgerald was beaten by a Belinda Holt delivery when on 12.

Deep struck twice in the fifth over to keep the match on a knife’s edge, with Lemon coming to the crease to join Menz.

With three overs to be bowled, Harden needed 20 for victory and when they managed eight off Doidge’s over the odds were in their favour.

Susan Caldwell was thrown the ball for the penultimate over and had just four singles taken from it, leaving Maureen Bunworth with the task of bowling the final six deliveries.

With the field in close in an attempt to prevent singles, Menz and Lemon had to be selective with their shots, and they proved up to the task, Lemon hitting the winning runs with one ball to spare. Menz remained not out on 14, while Lemon’s nine was equally as important. What Sunday’s carnival did highlight was the improvement in skills of all sides. In the early years wides and no balls were common, however there were relatively few on the weekend, while the fielding and running between wickets was impressive.