After coming into Sunday winless, reigning Cricket North premiers Westbury will face the kings of T20, Launceston, in Thursday night's T20 cup grand final.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Regaining their Greater Northern Raiders stars, the Shamrocks snuck past five-time grand finalists Riverside to reach the big dance.
RIVERSIDE v WESTBURY
Westbury snapped their T20 losing streak at the expense of the Blues in the morning's clash, defeating Riverside by six wickets.
Winning the toss and batting, the Blues were dealt a blow first ball - losing opener Jake Tierney on debut - and James Simpson and Cooper Anthes moments later to be reeling at 3-9.
Jack Colgrave (15) and Tom Garwood (17) steadied the ship through the middle, as did Aidan O'Connor (21) at the end but their 9-80 proved not to be enough.
Liam Ryan (3-14) was the Shamrocks' leading wicket-taker, while Garwood (2-16) and O'Connor (2-30) shared the spoils for Riverside as Chathura Athukorala (29 not out) and Dan Murfet (27) put the victors on the way to success.
MORE CRICKET
SOUTH LAUNCESTON v LAUNCESTON
A shared team effort with the bat saw Launceston continue their untouched streak as they beat South Launceston by eight wickets.
South Launceston made 7-108 batting first courtesy of solid contributions from promoted pair Will Beattie (35) and Doug Ryan (18) as Lions opening bowlers Ben Humphrey (0-16 off four) and Tom Gray (0-7 off 3) remained economical and Cody Townend (2-21) found success.
In chase, the Lions flexed their muscles, passing the total just two wickets down in the 13th over with Sam Elliston-Buckley (39 off 24), Alistair Taylor (28* off 29) and Humphrey (23* off 19) all doing their part while Dilan Sangagirigoda (14 off five) enjoyed a short, smacking stint.
SOUTH LAUNCESTON v RIVERSIDE
The Blues ensured they wouldn't go through Sunday winless, defeating South Launceston by six wickets.
The Knights batted first again and were dealt two quick blows, losing Jeremy Jackson and Ryan in the opening two overs to be reeling at 2-6.
But Angus Foster (49*) and Ishang Shah (47) got the Knights out of the sticky situation, partnering for 80 runs off 84 balls, before the latter was dismissed and their side finished their overs on 3-119.
Tierney was again dismissed early with Anthes and Patrick Mackrell following suit in the proceeding overs but a 59-run stand between Pete New and Matt Owens (both 37) put the Blues back on the path as Jack Manix-Geeves joined the latter at the crease and finished the job.
Up-and-coming spinner Sam McLean was the pick of the bowlers for South, claiming 2-15, as young quick James Leake (0-17 off four) was economical.
MOWBRAY v WESTBURY
Westbury enjoyed having their returning Greater Northern Raiders players back on the park as Jono Chapman starred with a five-for against Mowbray.
He took 5-16 and the experienced John Kedey 3-12 as only young guns Will Dakin and Jonty Nicolson (both 33) recorded double figures, putting on 57 together to get them out of a rut as the Eagles made 9-122.
The Shamrocks didn't have it all their own way in chase however, losing Jesse Digney with the third ball of the innings before Raiders captain Ollie Wood joined club skipper Murfet at the crease.
The pair put on 36 before Wood departed but it was with Nathan Parkin that Murfet would do the most damage, combining for 59 until Murfet was dismissed for 60.
Parkin watched two more teammates get dismissed before meeting the same fate himself for 22 but the work was basically done as a Kedey two took the win to seal a perfect day for the Shamrocks.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
LAUNCESTON v MOWBRAY
Launceston confirmed their perfect run through the T20s, smashing Mowbray by 87 runs to book their spot in the final.
Some opening fireworks from 2020-21 recruit Sandagirigoda, who earlier this week was described as one to watch, got the Lions off to a great start.
He departed for 47 with the ladder-leaders at 4-89, but not before hitting Mowbray captain Luke Scott out of the ground with a superb reverse sweep which sent the David Boon stand into hysterics.
Lower-order duo Archie Wilkinson (17) and Gray (12) boosted the Lions to 9-137 with Blake Cassidy (3-28) and Lochie Geard (2-28) the Eagles' best.
That's about where the positives ended for Mowbray, falling to 4-9 before the batsmen took it upon themselves to bat out the overs with Geard the only double-figure scorer with 31 off 52 balls.
The Eagles finished their 20 overs at 7-50 with the wickets shared around among the leading Launceston bowlers.