The Lions went through the round robin tournament unbeaten and restricted the Blues to 8-78 after being sent in to field at NTCA No.1.

Opener Josh Partridge (14) was one of only two Blues to reach double figures, as number seven bat Cooper Anthes top-scored with 23.

Five different Lions bowlers picked up a wicket with Tom Gray (1-7 off four) the most economical, while three others completed a run out.

Sam Artis (2-23) bowled Sam Elliston-Buckley on the first ball of Launceston’s innings and Alistair Taylor, Tom Bennett and Ben Humphrey all departed for four or less to give the Blues a sniff. 

Cooper Anthes (1-4 off four) was incredible with the ball but Zac Oldenhof (23) and Cam Lynch (20 not out) led the Lions home with 10 balls to spare.

Max Hunt took 2-12 off three while Jack Colgrave took a wicket and a catch.

Launceston skipper Alistair Taylor said an energetic fielding effort set the standard for the game

“We got some run-outs, took our chances and took some really good catches which held them to 78,” he said.

“With the bat we probably went a bit too hard and a few nerves probably kicked in for a couple of the boys.

“Being 5-30… I was always confident we could get the runs it was just going to take one partnership and Rowan Smith and Cam Lynch batted beautifully together - just soaked up some balls and hit some ones.

“I’m really proud of the boys and the way they went about it… we haven’t won a flag for probably seven or eight years so to do that was really good.

“It’s not easy with the T20 stuff… blokes are trying to get off work early and that kind of thing so it’s never an easy task to get a T20 team on the park, but it was really well done by the boys.”

Riverside beat Launceston in a super over in the 2016-17 final after both sides finished their 20 overs on 87.