Reigning premiers South Launceston booked a first-grade Cricket North grand final berth with an outright victory over Mowbray at NTCA No. 2 Ground on Saturday.
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The Knights declared at 8-168 with a 29-run advantage before play on day two and proceeded to bowl the last-placed Eagles out for just 85 in 36.3 overs.
Casey Young was exceptional with 6-19 off 10.3 overs, while Mowbray keeper-batsman Connor Lockhart dug in for a well-earned 39.
South needed just 56 runs for victory, the minor premiership and a spot in the decider.
Sean Harris (10) and Tom Waller (15) lost their wickets before captain Alec Smith (19 not out) and Charlie Eastoe (12 not out) guided them to 2-58 in 13.2 overs.
“The result is pretty pleasing,” Smith said post match.
“It was a little nervy at lunch as we knew Westbury were well ahead in their game and we only had three wickets, but then Casey Young bowled a really good spell to turn the match in our favour.
“Everyone is pretty excited for the grand final and happy that we don’t have to play a semi-final.”
WESTBURY completed its drubbing of Riverside – winning by an innings and 54 runs on day two at Westbury Oval.
The Shamrocks started the day at 4-102 in response to the Blues’ first innings score of 96 and went on to declare at 8-230 with captain Richard Howe smacking 69, Jonathon Chapman making 26 and Nathan Parkin finishing unbeaten on 76.
Ramesh Sundra (3-55), Luke Midson (2-22) and captain Tom Garwood (2-62) were Riverside’s best with the ball.
With 224 runs to play with Westbury again made light work on Riverside’s batting line-up, rolling them for 80.
Howe ended with figures of 4-17 and Chapman was brilliant with 3-10 off 14 overs.
Sundra top scored for the Blues with 18, while Alex Saunders was a close second with 15 as the rest of the XI failed to reach double figures.
“It was a great game from the lads but unfortunately we didn’t move anywhere on the ladder,” Howe said.
“We started the day with an easy going mindset to play our natural game and it happened for us.
“Nathan (Parkin) has only moved to the top of the order in the last couple of weeks due to some injuries and he’s done a really good job.”
The Shamrocks will now play Launceston in a semi-final at Westbury Oval next week for a spot in the grand final.
“It’s a big match and hopefully we can pull it all together, Launceston is a really good team as they have two or three really dangerous bowlers and a couple of guys with the bat that can tear a game apart,” Howe said.
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
