Nathan Philip was the star of the show with a stunning 133 – a score which six of the past eight teams travelling to Westbury have failed to reach. 

Arriving at the crease at 3-20, Philip joined forces with recalled left-hander James Lee (53) and put on 137 before the latter was caught off Nick Spencer (3-49).

A 71-run stand with Tom Waller followed and despite the Knights losing 6-6 in the dying overs, 234 proved a winning score. 

“We lost a few early wickets but that big partnership between Nathan and James Lee really set it up for us,” Waller said.

“I could tell from ball one he was really going to have a bit of a dip and chance his arm.

“He did get dropped on 60 or 70 but he was smart and he looked for ones and twos to get off strike, and then when the ball was in his area he really cashed in.

“He hit some unbelievable shots, especially after 100, it was pretty spectacular.”

Westbury made it to 1-50 but lost regular wickets thereafter as Josh Freestone picked up the big scalp of Dane Anderson for 31. 

The paceman finished with season-high figures of 5-43 as the innings ended in the 37^th over.

“Our run rate was on track all day, it was just that we kept losing wickets,” Westbury skipper Richard Howe said.

“We didn’t have enough guys make runs in the top six … we’ve got some areas to work on there and guys need to put their hands up to be able to chase those sorts of totals. 

“They had that one really big partnership and that won them the game – credit to Nathan and the way he batted today, that was fantastic.”

LAUNCESTON shot to the top of the ladder with a five-wicket win over Mowbray.

The Eagles pulled some surprises at the selection table with John LeFevre and Sagar Chhetri lining up in their first games for the season and James Storay his first in nearly two years.

Rhys Watson and Rohan Pooley (38) both made starts in the middle order but no one could go on for a big score as Fletcher Bennett picked up three wickets in 9-135. 

The Lions needed 44 overs to chase down the runs but did so with an unbeaten 50-run partnership between veteran all-rounder Rowan Smith (50 not out) and Ethan Conway (22 not out).

“(Rowan’s) a seasoned campaigner and he’s been a really strong performer for us for a lot of years now - you always know what you’re going to get,” Launceston coach Alistair Taylor said following his side’s fourth straight win.

“Everyone’s contributing at different stages so far and they’re all training really well so we’re absolutely rapt, but we can’t be too happy with ourselves. 

“It’s a tight season from what I’ve seen so far and you need to win as many games as you can early.”

BURNIE broke its duck with a five-wicket victory at Devonport.

Plenty of Orions made starts but Cody Brown was the only one to reach 20 as a 5-4 lower order collapse saw the home side post just 105.

Brady Yates was destructive late to finish with 6-27.

The Hurricanes then chased down the total in 28 overs with Josh Barry top-scoring with 43 and Orion Christopher Lindsay picking up 2-16 off nine.

LATROBE was soundly beaten for the second game running as Sheffield secured a five-wicket win inside 30 overs.

The Demons were in deep trouble at 7-44 before a 50-run eighth-wicket partnership anchored by Josh Smith (35) helped save some blushes.

Gary Miles and Marc Simonds combined for 5-33 off 20 overs to restrict the visitors to a sluggish 9-122.

A team effort then saw Sheffield home as Miles hit two sixes to finish 24 not out.

WYNYARD came within three wickets of its first win before falling to a Corey Murfet-inspired Ulverstone.

The match began ominously for the Blues as each of their top three went for ducks, but Hashan Abeyrathna and Lachlan Bryan (20 each) dug in to help post 101 off 47 overs.

Jacob Snare bowled five maidens to take an incredible 3-6 off 10.

In reply, Sam Perko was dismissed off the first ball of the innings and when skipper Josh Walmsley was dismissed cheaply the Black Caps were looking shaky at 4-34. 

But Murfet’s 53 steadied the ship and got the visitors home in the 35th over.