South Launceston will be Cricket North’s sole representative in the Greater Northern Cup finals after North-West teams dominated the final round of roster games on Saturday.
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The Knights had to beat Ulverstone to make the final four and did so by 11 runs after withstanding a late-order fightback by the Black Caps.
Having posted 7-219 on a cracking wicket at River Park, South had their opposition tied up in knots at 8-101 before a 74-run partnership between William Dau (50) and Brent Munday (42) breathed life back into the contest.
A further 33 was added for the last wicket but it wasn’t quite enough as Alec Smith’s side booked itself a semi-final appointment.
“We nearly lost it,” Smith said after the game.
“We had them 8-100 and we only won by 10 runs, so (we’re) relieved but pretty stoked as well.”
The South captain enjoyed a successful day with the bat and ball, making 85 at number three and picking up 4-23 including the final wicket of Munday.
Smith put on 79 for the fourth wicket alongside Charlie Eastoe (67), while Casey Young (2-23 off 10) and Mark Nutting (2-24) both bowled well for the Knights.
LAUNCESTON dropped out of the finals race after coming off second-best in a virtual elimination final against Burnie.
After making 8-171 and taking three early wickets the Lions looked to be well on top, but a swashbuckling innings from Josh Barry soon took the game from their grasp.
The left-hander put on 96 with captain Barry Yates (26) and finished on 100 not out as his team reached the target five-down.
“He had an unconventional innings but it paid off,” Lions skipper Alistair Taylor said of Barry’s aggressive knock.
“At 3-17 you think you’re in the box seat but there’s alway a partnership in a game of cricket, whether that be the first wicket or the last wicket, and those boys batted well.”
Launceston had plenty of contributors with the bat but lacked a big score as Lachlan Newland top-scored with 32.
Taylor said his side would learn from the game before shifting its focus to two-day cricket after the Christmas break.
“It was disappointing to get knocked out of the cup but they’re the pressure games you want to play in to help you for later on in the season.
“We’re disappointed we lost but it’s not the end of the world, we’re still in a good spot I think.”
WESTBURY took it up to competition benchmark Latrobe before eventually falling to a four-wicket defeat at St Patrick’s College.
The Shamrocks posted a competitive 6-190 from their 50 overs with skipper Richard Howe (42) and Matthew Battle (33) leading the way.
Battle (2-26) and Jono Chapman then combined for three top-order wickets to put Westbury in with a sniff before opener Callan Morse (78) and Max Carius (75) turned the tables with a 122-run partnership.
Kieran Hume chipped in with two wickets at the end but it was too little, too late as the Demons passed the total in the 47th over to consolidate their spot atop the Greater Northern Cup ladder.
“One hundred and ninety was never going to be enough there but to their credit they batted really well through the middle and put a fair bit of pressure on us,” Howe said.
“When we took two or three wickets early we thought we were in with a chance... but unfortunately we didn’t get that breakthrough when we needed it.”
A classy ton from Anish Paraam saw Devonport to a 37-run over RIVERSIDE and into the semi-finals.
The Singaporean star arrived at the crease early on and made himself at home, scoring 109 of his side’s 8-202 before eventually being caught off Alex Saunders (4-39).
“It was a pretty disappointing result,” Blues captain Tom Garwood said.
“We were in the game for most of it but Paraam batted really well, he probably won them the game with the bat.”
Young gun Bailey Hunt (59) fired again at first drop to get the Blues to 1-86 before wickets began to tumble as Matthew Bennett and Christopher Lindsay (three wickets apiece) cleaned up the tail.
Garwood was encouraged by Hunt’s form.
“He’s batting well at three and four and we’ve got (Oliver Wood) to come back in after Christmas which will be a really big in as well so our top four are looking good at the moment.”
Wynyard picked up its first win of the season in a see-sawing one-wicket win over MOWBRAY.
A brutal opening bowling spell from Andrew Davidson (5-16) and Peter Fulton had the Eagles flailing at 6-20 before Rhys Watson (38) and Sagar Chhetri (42) dug in to keep Mowbray in the game.
The pair were both removed by Brodie Stokes but not before helping Mowbray reach 117 from 37 overs.
Despite the lack of scoreboard pressure Mowbray dragged itself in a winning position thanks to a great spell of bowling from left-armer Blake Cassidy (3-40) as Wynyard crumbled to 8-81.
But Matthew Kinch (24) and Darcey Brazendale put on an innings-high stand of 31 as the Blues finally broke their drought.