Once a specialist batsman and even a keeper, multi-flag Shamrock Kieren Hume has been reinvented as a jet spinner in 2019-20.

The veteran leads Cricket North's bowling tables with 16 wickets at 8.81, and boasts an astonishing one-day economy rate of 2.51.

In the past three weeks alone Hume has taken 10-38 off 18 overs and no-one is happier with the school teacher's progress than Westbury captain Dan Murfet.

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"He's been a part of first-grade premierships but he's always been in and out of first-grade," captain Dan Murfet.

"He's found a niche in his off spinners and he's managed to find ways to make himself pretty unpredictable as well.

'When he first started bowling his offies it was more for the red ball and he'd really try and rip it, but he's found something extra with the white ball as well in that he's changing his pace a lot more and bowling the odd straight one and arm ball to add to his armoury.

"He's been a really good option for us this year so far and there's no reason why he cant keep taking wickets for us and being up the top of the wickets there for the rest of the season."

Westbury sits top of the table with one round to go and will travel to Wynyard for the chance to lock in a home final.

The Shamrocks have made two name-for-name changes with Kaleb Williams replacing Jake Williams (Raiders) and Matthew Allen covering Matthew Battle (unavailable).

MOWBRAY could make or break Latrobe's finals hopes when the two sides do battle at Invermay Park.

An Eagles side boasting five players aged 16 or younger nabbed its first win of the season last round in an upset over South Launceston, and will call on club stalwart Clinton Reid to fill in for young gun Spencer Hayes (Raiders) and Ollie Gibson (football).

Coach James Storay, who is unlikely to return from an ankle injury until after Christmas, said his side's form had been steadily building throughout the year.

"We've been good for periods of time and against some of the better coastal sides we just haven't been good enough for long enough, we've had some lapses which is completely what we expected with a young group," he said.

"To knock off the then-top-of-the-ladder side is a massive achievement and Yabby [Reid] and I are really proud of them.

"We can see that our youth are heading the right direction and we're stoked that they got some reward for all the effort they've put in over the last few months."

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One form batsman will replace another as RIVERSIDE travel to third-placed Ulverstone.

Patty Mackrell, who scored 59 not out in his last two innings, will return from a fortnight off to replace Raiders-bound Cooper Anthes, who scored 64 in his last two innings. Coach Lyndon Stubbs is also set to miss.

Captain Tom Garwood said his side has not looked ahead to next weekend's Cricket North T20 cup, of which the Blues have made the past four finals, but remained focused on the long game.

"We're still going to set up for after Christmas in two-day stuff so we're still looking at doing our thing - if we do well in the 50-over stuff the 20-over stuff will take care of itself," he said.

"The last couple of games we haven't played our best cricket and we need to take those match-winning chances."

LAUNCESTON must break a three-game losing streak if it is to leapfrog Devonport into seventh spot.

Having struggled with the bat in recent weeks, the Lions regain top-order talent Zac Oldenhof but lose Sam Elliston-Buckley (Raiders).

Captain-coach Alistair Taylor said his side turned back the dial at training to help break a run of shaky form.

"We've had a poor three weeks, especially with the bat so we're just looking to rectify that and play some good, positive cricket and get back on the winners list," he said.

"We feel like we've been training the house down the last few weeks - we took a bit of a step back on Tuesday night, we had a bit of a relaxing night and did that just to try and change it up a bit.

"I can't fault the boys for effort and endeavour at all, it just hasn't clicked for us on game day."

SOUTH LAUNCESTON hosts Sheffield in a match that could see the winner make finals and the loser miss out.

Near finals certainties two weeks ago, the Knights have dropped two games in a row despite back-to-back fifties from Sean Harris.

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