A moment of magic from Carl Rogers helped Great Witchingham make Carter Cup history at Manor Park yesterday.

The Witches, in their first final, were heading for a nerve-jangling conclusion against 10-time winners Vauxhall Mallards at the home of Horsford until Rogers pulled off a catch that was good enough to grace any fixture.

In a match that remained pretty neck and neck throughout, Rahul Dewan's classy half-century had appeared to give the Ducks hope they could chase down the 270 runs they needed for victory.

But as he went in search of another boundary, Rogers made up at least 20 yards to claim a stunning one-handed catch on the boundary rope at deep mid-wicket to swing the game back in the debutants' favour. And it was a grip they never relinquished as Witchingham went on to win the final by a margin of 52 runs.

In a slow-scoring game Witchingham's run-rate offered little excitement. But Sam Arthurton's extremely patient 123, bridging successive century partnerships with James Spelman (65) and Carl Rogers (56), put his side in a good position.

Mallards' bowlers offered consistently decent line and length for little reward and only saw their figures damaged, in the runs against column, by the free-scoring Rogers, whose half century rolled back the years.

In reply, Norfolk seamer Kieran Bunting started like a train and drew more bounce out of a flat wicket than anyone else had on show. Two maiden overs had Carl Amos in all sorts of trouble. But he lost his range and the Ducks moved along at well above the required 4.5 runs an over – until they got snared on a pitch that offered little for the batsmen – nor really the bowlers.

But Spelman and Bunting, especially, turned the screw to put Witchingham in control. And the latter. who had caused more trouble than most, finally got the rewards he deserved by claiming two wickets in two balls at the death as his side closed out their famous triumph.

Manor Park: Witchingham won toss

Great Witchingham innings

James Spelman lbw b Goldsmith 65

Sam Arthurton not out 123

C Rogers run out (Dewan) 56

T Collishaw lbw b Bradshaw 2

S Joubert b Addison 0

Shaun Athurton c Goodenough b Addison 3

Extras nb1 w13 lb5 b1 20

Total 5 wkts (60 overs) 269

FoW: 1-130, 2-238, 3-246, 4-253, 5-269

Bowling: Bradshaw 12-1-50-1, Addison 10-0-40-2, Stolworthy 10-0-51-0, Todd 10-0-41-0, Goldsmith 10-1-47-1, Dewan 8-0-34-0

Vauxhall Mallards innings

C Amos lbw b James Spelman 32

S Goldsmith lbw b Joubert 18

M Plater c Groves b James Spelman 11

R Dewan c Rogers b Joubert 54

A Shearer b James Spelman 5

P Free b Bunting 29

R Goodenough run out (Jonathan Spelman) 0

P Bradshaw c Dunger b Bunting 12

B Stolworthy c Jonathan Spelman b Rogers 8

A Todd c Joubert b Rogers 18

M Addison not out 8

Extras nb1 w11 lb7 b4 23

Total all out (59.5 overs) 217

Fall: 1-41, 2-64, 3-77, 4-83, 5-157, 6-161, 7-181, 8-181, 9-198, 10-217

Bowling: Bunting 11-3-41-2, Dunger 7-2-29-0, Joubert 12-3-28-2, James Spelman 12-1-35-3, Hale 7-1-24-0, Rogers 10.5-0-49-2

Witchingham won by 52 runs