Cricket North: Riverside pinches tie, Lions still top

Dismissed for just 98 after Patty Mackrell (46) struggled for partners, the Blues made a good fist of defending a low total as Jesse Homan (4-24) ripped through the top order.

Devonport crumbled to 5-47 before Eli Sheean (26, 3-11) and Matthew Bennett brought the hosts within 15 runs shortly after drinks.

Ramesh Sundra (3-18) helped level the contest before Manix-Geeves ended the game with a sharp piece of fielding to run out Chris Lindsay.

"To walk away with two points after that batting performance was a credit to our bowling and fielding," Blues captain Tom Garwood said.

"We knew after our batting innings it was very hard to get going, so with our bowlers we backed ourselves in to hold them to 98.

"Jesse had a couple of weeks off through injury but his spell today got us going - that's the best pace bowling I've seen in a long time."

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It was a similarly tense affair at Latrobe where SOUTH LAUNCESTON nearly threw away a commanding lead before holding out for a three-run win.

In one of five rain-affected clashes on Saturday, the Knights posted an imposing 4-176 off 29 overs thanks to a 108-run stand between Nathan Philip (86 off 56) and Tom Waller (36*).

Philip's knock nearly sent the ever-dominant left-hander top of the league batting charts while Waller's innings pleased skipper Sean Harris.

"Ever since last season he's really wanted to take on that number four position and anchor our innings," Harris said.

"So far when we've lost a couple of early wickets he's played that role perfectly.

"When Nathan came out and started smacking them everywhere Tom just did the job perfectly, got off strike, hit a few twos, it was another awesome partnership."

The Demons looked buried at 5-72 but a 10-over flurry from Jacob Webb (45*) and Stan and James Tyson (25 each) nearly turned the game on its head.

Debutant Sam McLean (3-23) finished as the pick of the Knights' bowlers.

"He's played a bit of T20 cricket for us and done a really good job - he's a good defensive spin bowler and plays a fairly similar role to Brodie [Jarrad]," Harris said.

"He was a little bit nervous but then they started coming out nicely and he played his role perfectly."

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LAUNCESTON swept through Sheffield's lower order to clinch a 60-run home victory, taking its winning streak to seven.

Captain Alistair Taylor's run-a-ball 64 was the crucial knock in the Lions' 6-147, which proved a summit too high for even the Mountaineers to climb.

Alex King (25) and Marc Simonds (21) set Sheffield on the right path before last week's batting heroes - James Curran and Ben Humphrey - picked up three wickets apiece to complete a late collapse of 6-19.

"We got the best of both conditions I'd say because there was a bit of rain around that softened the wicket up so the ball did a little bit," Taylor said.

"The bowlers bowled really well but our fielding was exceptional as well - we took three or four really tough chances which probably swung the game in our favour."

Launceston picked up a bonus point to extend its lead at the top of the table and is enjoying its best run of form in recent memory.

"If you're winning games of cricket you're going to be up and about and there's a good vibe at the club at the minute," Taylor said.

"Everyone's just enjoying being around each other and playing good cricket and it's someone new performing every week which is exciting."

WESTBURY nabbed two bonus points at Wynyard after knocking off the Tigers' 70 all out in just 11 overs.

Opener Jesse Digney's quickfire 30 set the foundation for an easy seven-wicket win after the game was reduced to 27 overs a side.

"One of the most pleasing things was we were able to adapt to that situation," Westbury skipper Dan Murfet said.

"When there's wet weather about and a bit of unknown about when you're going to be on, it's important to be able to switch on and be ready to go and we were really good to start with.

"We lost a couple of wickets along the way but we had that bonus point opportunity in our sights and we wanted to make sure we were ticking it over."

Earlier, Nick Spencer opened up the innings by taking his 400^th wicket with the third ball of the match.

The veteran removed both openers to join Kaleb Williams and Joel Lloyd in taking two wickets, while spin twins Alex Kerrison (3-4 off 3.1) and Kieren Hume (0-6 off six with four maidens) were conspicuously inexpensive.

MOWBRAY remains in search of its first win thanks to an unbeaten stand between Ulverstone opener Jason Snare (68) and Connor Tuson (36).

Defending 142, the Eagles made a bright start with milestone man James Storay (3-14) snaring three early scalps before the 88-run partnership secured a seven-wicket win with five overs to spare.

"It was very similar to what we keep talking about - close but not close enough unfortunately," Storay said.

"I actually thought we had a pretty competitive total to defend and we came out with the new ball and bowled ok but we're not bowling consistent enough.

"We're not far away, we just need to be consistent for longer."

Luke Scott (63*) again shouldered the Eagles' batting while Storay (22) contributed a cameo and Sam Freeman showed some potential batting at five.

"We gave him a bit of a promotion because he's been batting well," Storay said.

"He didn't get the runs he would have liked but he'll get more opportunities as the year goes on to bat higher up the order."