Loughborough Town survived a nervous final day to win the Everards League.
They made sure of topping the Premier Division with a five-wicket victory at Market Harborough.
In the clash of the only two sides who could catch them, Kibworth beat Sileby by seven wickets – but it was not enough because Loughborough retained the 15-point advantage they took into the last round.
Appropriately, skipper Dips Patel hit the winning run to seal the club's eighth Premier crown in his 13th season in charge.
He is the most influential figure in the league.
More than six foot tall, he is a natural leader who encourages, cajoles, praises and exhorts his team – and they appear to have the utmost respect for him.
He is quick to go on the attack in his field placings, makes plenty of runs and he has the priceless knack of winning the toss with phenomenal frequency, particularly in games that matter.
For once, he lost the toss at Harborough and, at first, Loughborough struggled as home openers Joe Kendall (41) and George Clarke (42) shared a stand of 92.
But the middle order became bogged down as left-arm spinner Paul Fisher found turn and bounce to claim 4-26. He pulled a calf muscle in his right leg in his sixth over and for a time it seemed he would not be able to continue.
But he eventually hobbled in to take a wicket with his next ball and went on to complete a fine 10-over spell.
Zak Chappell made 57 and Harborough totalled 217-9 off their 50 overs.
Harborough captain Joe Gordon took a wicket in each of his first two overs, Loughborough lost wickets steadily and, at 132-5, the game was still in the balance.
But Tom Wells (81 not out) and Patel (37 not out) had few alarms as they shared an unbroken stand of 86 in 16 overs to clinch the game and the title.
At Sileby, the home side slipped from 75-1 to 82-5 and were eventually all out for 165 with Darren Shaw taking 4-36.
Greg Smith hit 84 and Shaw was 45 not out in Kibworth's successful run chase.
