A colossal eighth-wicket record stand on Sunday has rescued Westbury from near oblivion and supplanted the visitors into a prime position to win at Invermay Park.
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The Shamrocks posted 9-324 before declaring and forcing Mowbray firmly on the back foot at 2-32 in the final hour before stumps.
Stalwart Dane Anderson (48) and teen Jake Williams (24) provided a slight hint of top-order resistance, but the usual pair had minimal impact on the bold finish.
“It finished off alright, but it started very shaky,” Westbury captain Richard Howe said after his side collapsed to a precarious 5-50.
Anderson’s prized wicket delivered the Shamrocks to 7-122 only before Jono Chapman joined Corey Briggs.
The top Greater Northern Raiders allrounders then turned the game on its head.
They put on 113 together to leave the Mowbray bowlers shaking their heads.
Howe believes their partnership is a club record.
“It would have to be up there, I reckon,” he said.
Briggs was particularly aggressive in the counterattack.
He blunted 83 off 79 balls that contained eight fours and a six as the score ticked over quickly on his watch.
The 21-year-old fell victim to opener James Storay, the pick of the Eagles attack with 3-69 off 20 overs.
“We had a couple of guys sort of scratched off, but Jono and Corey dug in pretty deep,” Howe said.
“Once the wicket flattened out and the sun came out, it actually became a really good batting strip.
“It was very much for them two boys reward for effort – they are the hardest trainers.”
But then Chapman took over the batting reins to belt 10 fours and five sixes, ensuring he brought up his maiden century after more than a decade playing at Westbury.
The No.9 finished the day with 101 not out off 124 balls in 169 minutes.
Howe was delighted for his long-time teammate to reach the deserved milestone.
“He hasn’t really made a massive score before – he tinges with a lot of thirties, forties, the odd fifty,” he said.
“So for him to go on and get his ton was awesome, and all the boys got around him.”
Mowbray first made the best of the home conditions.
Shamrocks opening pair Sean Stevenson (0) and Will Donald (7), allrounder Ollie Wood (9) and keeper Daniel Murfet (2) struggled to get a start after Storay and Blake Cassidy (2-49) led the way.
Howe was not surprised the Eagles got on top early.
“We spoke about the fact there was going to be a bit in the wicket early,” he said.
“I do think to Mowbray’s credit, their opening bowlers did a fantastic job.
“I think they created seven or eight chances there within the first hour or a half.”
Mowbray captain John LeFevre believed the multiple dropped catches could have halved its run chase.
LeFevre (11) and Luke Scott (10) was dismissed in back-to-back overs to make the task more difficult for the home side next week.
“To not being able to convert those chances has a two-fold effect, as morale drops a little bit as well,” he said.
“It was just disappointing not to capitalise on our chances, but that’s cricket.”