A hard-hitting half-century from Carl Hopkinson carried Sussex Sharks to a thrilling last-ball win in their National League Second Division basement battle with Scottish Saltires.
Set a rain-revised target of 170 from 31 overs, Sussex looked to be sliding to an ignominious defeat at The Grange in Edinburgh when they slumped to 98-7.
Still needing 80 from the last ten overs, Sussex needed something special, and they got it in the form of man-of-the-match Hopkinson's highest-ever one-day score.
He was unbeaten on 67 and the Sharks were down to their last wicket when he hit the final ball of the match to the boundary, one of his nine fours and one six with which the match was cruelly taken away from the Scots.
It was tough on Saltires skipper Craig Wright, who had marshalled his troops superbly in the field as well as taking three wickets.
Earlier a stand of 85 between Ryan Watson and Colin Smith appeared to have set the Saltires on course for a huge total.
Watson reached 48 from just 49 balls while Smith offered support.
However, Watson's dismissal, caught by Mark Davis off Hopkinson, sparked a mini-collapse which saw the home side lose three wickets for just seven runs.
The biggest disappointment for an expectant crowd came when Indian test star Rahul Dravid's last appearance of the season came to an end for just one run.
Greig Williamson and Kyle Coetzer boosted the total in between showers. William-son hit 27 while Coetzer's quickfire 16 included a six off Paul Hutchison, who was the Sharks leading wicket taker with four-29.
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