Riverside and Launceston have made significant strides towards locking in a T20 final date for the second year running.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Still celebrating Thursday's unlikely upset at Westbury, the Blues had even more reason to smile on Saturday when in-form veteran Patty Mackrell knocked off Cricket North's other heavyweight with a six off the last ball.
Chasing South Launceston's 7-124, Mackrell and Ramesh Sundra entered the final over needing five runs off star quick Josh Freestone for victory.
After patiently playing out the first five balls for just two singles, Mackrell (39*) stepped up to the plate and dispatched last season's top wicket-taker over the rope to complete a six-wicket win.
Sundra finished with an important 15 not out after Tom Garwood (35) and Dan Forster (22) had put on 54 for the first wicket. Jackson Young took 3-20 off four.
Earlier, Ishang Shah hit a blazing 52 off 39 while Blues Cooper Anthes (2-10 off four) and Jesse Homan (2-20) impressed with the ball.
Launceston matched the Blues by knocking off Westbury and South in the same day to advance to Sunday morning's T20 final rematch unbeaten.
Having completed a 10-wicket win over Mowbray on Thursday, the Lions were equally as convincing in demolishing the Shamrocks by 55 runs and the Knights by nine wickets.
Zac Oldenhof, Sam Elliston-Buckley, Cam Lynch and Lachie Newland all scored 20-plus as the Lions compiled 4-129 against Westbury with Alex Kerrison (3-17 off four) the only wicket-taker.
Ross Tulich (2-9) and Ben Humphrey (2-5) then strangled the visiting batsmen by conceding just 14 runs off their combined eight overs as Westbury finished its 20 overs 8-74.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Alistair Taylor led the charge with a breathtaking 56 not out as the Lions pummelled South inside 13 overs in the evening match.
Chasing just 7-99 after James Curran (3-11 and a runout) snapped a 37-run opening stand between Anders Bulow (17) and Sean Harris (24 off 16), Taylor signalled his intent early by hitting Bulow for consecutive sixes in the third over.
The keeper finished with four sixes and four fours in a 37-ball knock as Latrobe import Rhys French compiled a handy 24 not out.
The day's final game saw Westbury make tough work of a four-wicket win over Mowbray.
The Eagles made 8-73 batting first with John LeFevre, Sam Canny and Blake Cassidy all scoring 16 as Ollie Wood took 1-5 off four.
Westbury passed the total in the 18th over with Wood (16 not out) top-scoring and Ben Spinks taking 2-16.
Sunday's final is a 4pm match at the NTCA ground.
LADDER
- Launceston 6
- Riverside 4
- Westbury 2
- South Launceston 0
- Mowbray 0