South Launceston made the best of tricky conditions at Sheffield towards defending 113 to win.
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All that winning Knights captain Tom Waller could do was breath a sigh of relief, adding: “it was a tight one”.
But as Sheffield lost by 10 runs, it became abundantly clear the mathematical difference were star batsmen Nathan Philip of South and Alex King of Sheffield.
Philip’s 55 bettered his adversary’s 45 to take King’s crown for the day in the Moutaineers’ backyard.
“It’s different conditions down there,” Waller said.
“So it was a bit soft the wicket and bit hard to score – except for two big hitters in Nathan and Alex, who probably both chanced their arm a bit. They got a few over the boundaries.”
Philip was at the heart of a third-wicket partnership with Jeremy Jackson that pushed the Knights past 100.
Waller was relieved, feeling his side could restrict the hosts. And they did.
Despite conceding 30 runs to an opening stand, Ben Jackson came on and took three cheap wickets to bring South back in.
Josh Freestone took four wickets in a clump to later have Sheffield 8-85.
The Mountaineers needed 23 from the last wicket, but a run out ended that.
“We put a real emphasis on batting the 50 and we got to 49 overs,” Waller said. “We knew we were a chance, but we also knew we just needed early wickets to win.”
MOWBRAY finally got reward for effort, according to coach John LeFevre.
The Eagles were all over visiting Latrobe at Invermay Park, dismissing the visitors for 107 and easing to the target in an eight-wicket win.
“It was very pleasing to finally click in what was a really full performance from our players,” LeFevre said.
“Obviously with the ball, we started really well and were able to continue that throughout the innings.”
Joel Salter was the Demons’ lone shining light, holding up an end with 39 from 81 balls.
Justin Reeves led the Eagles attack, snaring an impressive 3-13 in nine overs.
“Today, particularly with the ball, we were able to put pressure on for extended periods of time and when we needed to,” LeFevre said.
“So credit to our bowlers – they did a fantastic job.”
Rohan Pooley hit 45 off 56 balls and Ben Bodha 31 off 65 to emphatically win the game in the 30th over.
WESTBURY also cruised at home to the point that captain Richard Howe made a strange observation.
Wynyard were out of its depth, bundled out for 49 as the Shamrocks got the runs inside 13 overs.
“It was weird finishing that early, that’s for sure,” Howe said.
Greater Northern Raiders paceman Jono Chapman led the way with 3-9, but part-time offie Dane Anderson took 2-4 and Will Donald 2-7 in the one-sided contest.
Dom Barrett steered his side home with 22 not out.
Howe was quick to leap to the poor Blues’ defence.
“They were a really, really young side – I think they only had a couple of guys who looked like they were over 20 to be fair,” he said.
“It’s always nice to get a win, but it’s also nice to get some match practice in.”
RIVERSIDE’S early-season aura has started to fade in a crushing 77-run loss.
Captain Tom Garwood was at pains to explain what went wrong against a resurgent Ulverstone.
“We bowled really well today, but we probably let through 20 or 25 runs in the field,” he said.
“We got off to a really good start at 0-38 and then lost 5-16. So we couldn’t bounce back from that.”
Ulverstone registered a combative 8-188 after Callum Wheeler (45) and Jason Snare (33) occupied the crease for 84 minutes in a 69-run opening stand.
Garwood at the top of the order and Cooper Anthes in the lower half made 28 each.
Snare was as devastating as he was with the bat, claiming 2-8 in 8.3 overs.
“The wicket was really good, the outfield was fast, but we obviously needed our top four or five to be there at the end,” Garwood said.
LAUNCESTON also had a similar collapse, but chasing 206 to win at Devonport.
In the end, the Lions were out for 119 after having lost 5-5 in the middle-order.
But captain Cameron Lynch felt the loss of control had happened much earlier.
“We absolutely thought it was gettable,” he said. “They ended up with nearly 40 off the last two overs.
“Our plan, or what we were hoping to do, was to bat as long as possible, to bat late, to keep wickets in hand.
“What Devonport did really well was able to launch really well at the back end.”
Matthew Bennett led the slaughter late with 81 in 72 balls after Anish Paraam scored 43, as Sam O’Mahony finished off the game with 5-36 with the ball.
We knew we were a chance, but we also knew we just needed early wickets to win
- South Launceston captain Tom Waller