Reigning premier South Launceston has consolidated its spot atop the Cricket North ladder with a 238-run first-innings win over Launceston.
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The rain held off for the whole day but South’s bowling attack was relentless in tying up the opposition, who managed 121 all out and 5-106 from 85 overs on Saturday.
Chasing South’s 4-359 declared, the Lions fell to 7-68 before Tom Gray (30) and Matthew Woods (19) helped take the total into three figures.
Casey Young (4-10 off nine overs) then mopped up the tail and Launceston was sent in again.
At 3-14 the Lions looked in danger of being dismissed twice, but captain Alistair Taylor (38 not out) and Lachie Newland dug in to save Launceston from an innings defeat.
“Jackson Young got a couple of quick ones and we were in with a sniff but we couldn’t quite get the last few,” Knights captain Alec Smith said.
“But we were really happy with how we played.”
Smith praised his pace attack – James Beattie and Youngs Jack, Jackson and Casey – for a dominant display.
“Our four quicks were fantastic, they bowled really well all day.
“We didn’t let them get on top at any stage and we had the ascendancy all day which was really pleasing.
“It’s always good to get a win early and not put pressure on ourselves to catch up later on.”
Joining South in the top two were WESTBURY, who saw off Mowbray thanks to an entertaining hundred from Dane Anderson.
In pursuit of 235, the Shamrocks resumed at 1-19 and made it to 45 before Sam Freeman added James Tyson to his LBW collection.
The wicket brought Anderson to the crease, and he didn’t leave until Westbury had passed the total four wickets down.
The former Tasmanian Tiger scored 133 at quicker than a run a ball, hitting 16 fours and seven sixes before being caught off Jono Jones (2-63).
The Eagles took a flurry of wickets at the end of their innings to dismiss Westbury for 302 with Sagar Chhetri collecting 3-61, but Anderson’s knock ensured it was too little, too late.
“He batted really well,” Westbury captain Richard Howe said.
“We spoke about someone getting a big score to chase down the target and Dane was that guy who went on and got a good score for us.
“To get the runs four-down was pleasing – to lose that six wickets for 70 wasn’t ideal, but we’re as happy as you can be to win a game of cricket.”
The two winners will face off at Westbury next weekend, while Launceston will host Riverside.