Mowbray bowler Justin Reeves, South Launceston batsman Chris Hay and Mowbray keeper Alistair Biffin. Picture: NEIL RICHARDSON
REIGNING NTCA premier Westbury flexed its muscle and warmed up for next week's grand final with a semi-final demolition job on George Town at Shaws Oval yesterday.
The Saints' hopes of a competitive performance were dashed when it mattered most, knocked over for just 50, off 20.4 overs, after winning the toss and deciding to bat first.
The damage was done early as the George Town top and middle order capitulated in the face of a strong Westbury attack.
Johnathan Chapman removed openers Rohan Pooley and Scott Semmens for three runs apiece, Nick Spencer sent Marshall Pooley (1) and Daniel Newton (0) back to the pavilion and when Chapman snared Liam Johnson (0) - the Saints had crashed to be 6-7, and never recovered.
Scott Driessen top scored with 30 after some big hitting coming at No.6, but was the only George Town batsman to make double figures.
Spencer claimed the excellent figures of 4-10, off his eight overs of pace, with three maidens.
The Shamrocks then showed the visitors how to score runs on their home wicket, with Dane Anderson hitting his second consecutive century and fifth for the season with a great knock of 134.
The ton brought up 1000 runs for the season for the Westbury run machine as he helped his side to a score of 5-239, at stumps, and a comprehensive first innings victory in a one- sided contest.
Zak Barber toiled hard with the ball for George Town to take 2-62 and Johnson finished with 2-74, in a disappointing end to a positive season.
"It was all set up in the first half an hour basically - the contest was over after that," Westbury coach Adrian Tudor said.
"It wasn't easy batting out there and in hindsight it was probably a good toss to lose.
"Dane with the bat was outstanding again - he was dropped on about 80 but he gives chances because he hits the ball so hard and they paid the price with another 60."
MOWBRAY and South Launceston are evenly placed in their semi-final at the NTCA No.1 Ground after day one.
The Knights made 179 after winning the toss and batting first and at stumps Mowbray was 2-52, in reply with John Le Fevre not out 27 and Liam Reynolds not out 4.
The batsmen dismissed were captain-coach Clinton Reid (7) and Matthew Scolyer (13).
Earlier, South openers Chris Hay (38) and Warwick Johnson got them away to a good start putting on 53 for the opening wicket.
But South then suffered a mini collapse, losing 4-22 to slump to 5-75, before captain Sean Harris and Cody Weedon (19) steadied the ship.
Harris top-scored with 66, the pair putting on 56 runs for the sixth wicket partnership.
Ric Considine picked up 3-20 for Mowbray, James Storay 3-35 and Reynolds 3-14.
"I think it is an even ball game at the end of the day," Reid said.
"I thought we stuck at it quite well with the ball and in a difficult last session I think we are pretty pleased to have only lost the two wickets." He said it was a good cricket wicket and he would have batted first if he won the toss.
South coach Ben Austen said he felt the game was evenly poised but said the Knights needed to take early wickets on the second day. "With a bit of dew there should be a bit of life in the pitch and hopefully if we can get some quick wickets we can get right back into a competitive situation," he said.
