The upset two-wicket loss on Thursday to Southern Storm – East had also come less than 24 hours after the Force had convincingly beaten the same intrastate rival by 90 runs in the last round.

But from the outset, Cricket North’s dominant side found the going tougher on a drier and slower wicket.

The Force slipped early to 4-25 against a Storm opening attack on their game.

Kaleb Williams (34 off 75 balls) and Will Bennett (15 of 59) put on an invaluable 39-run stand for the fifth wicket to revive their hopes.

When Spencer Hayes was run out for the side’s fifth single-figure score among the top seven batsman, the Force slumped again to 6-74.

But steely lower-order resolve from Gilbert Loane (20 off 44), Liam Evans and Cobey Evans (both 13 not out off 30) pushed out the carnival hosts to a defendable 8-137 from 50 overs.

Sam Banks, who finished his championship stint with seven wickets at 10.85, took a tidy 2-22 from his 10 overs.

The Storm’s top-order also struggled just as much on the wearing pitch, the Hobart batsmen losing wickets at regular intervals in falling to 5-81 in the run chase.

When Hunter Wright was dismissed eight runs short of the target, the Force needed just two wickets to retain their undefeated record.

But a calm Thomas McGann at the crease proved the stumbling block, guiding the visitors to a shock victory.

The Lindisfarne junior notched up 55 off 104 balls to hit the winning runs with 19 deliveries to spare.

He shared in a title-sealing 27-run, seventh-wicket partnership with San Ayliffe (14).

James Simpson was the pick of the Storm bowlers in the defeat, finishing with 2-17 from his seven overs.