An incredible 36 maidens were bowled in 104 overs of play as import spinner Will Donald kept things tight at Ingamells Oval, bowling 10 maidens in 21 overs for 2-24.

Launceston looked shaky early as top order batters Lachie Newland, Tom Bennett, Zac Oldenhof  and James Curran combined for just eight runs.

It was left to skipper Cam Lynch (56 off 183) and veteran Rowan Smith to anchor down and take the total into three figures.

Two more quick wickets fell after Lynch’s dismissal but Smith found another useful partner in Fletcher Bennett, who finished the day 32 not out.

Smith batted for more than five hours in an innings of Cheteshwar Pujara-like grit, but fell to Joel Lloyd for 71 in the penultimate over of the day.

Jonathan Chapman was the Shamrocks’ only other multiple wicket taker, collecting 2-29 off 20 overs.

Fifteen wickets fell in the day’s other fixture between MOWBRAY and Riverside. 

The Blues batted first at Invermay Park but struggled to string together any lengthy partnerships in making 156 all out. 

Both openers fell inside 12 overs and Eagles spinner Sam Freeman (3-43) then struck in successive overs to remove Alex Saunders and promoted number three Cooper Anthes. 

James Simpson and Jack Colgrave showed plenty of fight in compiling determined knocks of 25 apiece before becoming victims of Jimmy Storay, while Lyndon Stubbs top-scored from number nine with 34.

Justin Reeves (2-22) was the other Eagle to take multiple wickets as the Blues’ innings ended on the first ball of the 72nd over.

Mowbray was sent in to bat a tricky period at the end of the day and slumped to 5-56 with Rohan Pooley the not out batsman on 14. 

Jesse Homan dismissed key pair John LeFevre and Ben Bodha in successive balls to finish with 2-12 off seven overs, while Stubbs (2-32) trapped both openers with straight deliveries. 

Sam Artis was brought on for the last over of the day but bowled only two balls, with Rhys Watson’s dismissal for 16 the final play of the day.

Both matches will be concluded next Saturday.

Westbury and South Launceston will play again Sunday and are both in the running for next weekend’s Greater Northern Cup final.