With rain expected to wash out much of the remaining two days, as little as one hour’s play could be enough to decide the winner, with defending champion South Launceston needing five wickets and Westbury 30 runs.

Jake Williams (17*) appears Westbury’s best hope of bridging the gap from 5-59 to South Launceston’s 88, while continuous rain or another good spell of bowling from Jack and Casey Young would see the Knights take the flag.

The Shamrocks employed the luck of the Irish in winning the toss at NTCA No. 1 and didn’t think twice about bowling first, sending both Knights openers back to the shed early courtesy of Jono Chapman.

Alec Smith and Charlie Eastoe set about occupying the crease and the pair would have made it safe to lunch but for the latter mistiming a pull to mid-wicket.

Smith too offered a chance on 15 but was put down at point off a dangerous Jacob Kooran (3-17).

Westbury would not go on to pay for the mistake however, as Kooran trapped the Knights captain in front of his stumps in the first over after lunch.

As the runs continued to dry up another two wickets fell in quick succession to leave South in a disastrous state at 6-49.

Jeremy Jackson was the obvious saviour for South Launceston and after a cautious start he began to tick the scoreboard over, eventuating in a six over deep backward square leg.

But any hope of a three-figure total came when the number five bat fell to an unfortunate run-out, falling in the middle of the pitch after being sent back attempting a quick single. 

James Beattie and Jackson Young saw off 12 overs between them, but fell immediately after the tea break as Alex Kerrison was finally rewarded for a passable boa constrictor impersonation which saw him claim soccer score figures of 2-3 off 12.5 overs.

Westbury looked favourites at the change of innings but the low total didn’t intimidate Jack Young (3-13), who dismissed the Shamrocks’ top three in his first spell.

Casey Young swung the game back in his side’s favour by removing match-winning pair Dane Anderson and Richard Howe for single figures as Westbury crumbled to 5-42. 

Sixth-wicket pair Williams and Liam Ryan (10*) then put on 17 – the highest partnership of the innings – before umpires flicked off the bails for stumps, leaving the game at the mercy of the weekend’s weather.

Play resumes at 11am Saturday.