The tranquil and natural surrounds of Marist Park is one of the most loved venues in the Mount Gambier and District Cricket Association, but it may never witness a climax quite like last Thursday night.

Penola and the Millicent and District Cricket Association fought to the bitter end in an instant Dycer Constructions Big Bash classic.

Millicent batted first and set the Eagles the middling target of 138 and it appeared unlikely with seven runs needed from the final three balls and only one wicket in hand.

However, Zac Zema, a teenager picked for his right-arm seamers rather than his batting prowess saved the day for the reigning premiers smashing a huge six over the long off boundary from the final ball of the game to seal an unforgettable triumph.

Penola players displayed plenty of emotion running onto the field knowing what the moment meant to their title defence.

The heat was on from the first over with the Millicent team batting first and getting a rollicking start.

After getting his eye in during three dot balls, Sam Kent struck three fours to complete the opening over before falling to Josh Doyle one over later.

Number three Zach Jones also had an eventful stay striking a six, but was then Doyle’s second victim.

Millicent needed a stand and Jake Wight (19) went on the attack.

He dominated a 24-run stand with Jack Francis to push the total above 50 until they both fell in quick succession.

The “home” team was losing wickets too regularly with only five in hand at the halfway mark.

But Dylan Clough (25) and Jacob Carger (24) went on the charge hitting a combined total of seven fours and two sixes to propel Millicent into triple figures.

Zack Williams and Zema were targeted going at more than 10 an over, but the Eagles swooped in for the kill.

Millicent lost 3/4 to be bowled out for 137 with two and a half overs left to bat.

Paul Ellis was the chief destroyer picking up 4/27, while Doyle and Michael Waters bowled a pair of economical two-wicket spells.

Despite the disappointing finish, Millicent had plenty of belief after a dream start with the ball.

Wight rose the occasion with the new ball removing both Drew and Tom Clayfield in a superb opener over which did not concede a run off the bat.

After the torrid start, the Eagles turned to two favourite sons to steer them out of trouble.

Mark Smith (18) and Waters (42) threatened to steal the game as they pummelled the boundary blasting 55 runs in five overs.

But Millicent hit back hard thanks to the seamers of Jacob Carger.

Carger knocked over Waters and Doyle to restrict a Penola batting line up missing Jack Mullan to 5/62 with 86 runs still to get.

When the Eagles required a partnership, Jones (21) and Dermot Moore (29) delivered in spades.

The pair brought Penola past the 100-run mark through calculated hitting until Jones succumbed to Tyson Smith.

Despite a pair of quick wickets, Moore remained and scratched around with the tail.

He lasted until the dramatic final over where Millicent looked certain to steal glory.

After Carger conceded just three singles from the penultimate over, the Eagles needed seven runs from the final six balls.

Millicent trusted Tyson Smith to seal the deal and he only needed three balls to put his side on the cusp of a big win.

Ellis was caught chasing runs, while the set Moore was forced to depart after he was run out from Carger’s direct hit.

Nine down Penola had nothing in the shed and last-wicket pair Zema and Williams treaded water picking up back-to-back singles to stay in the game.

It set the stage for a grandstand finish with the reigning premiers needing to clear the rope off the final ball.

Zema stayed cool, cleared the front leg and launched the Eagles into the finals.