It took some quick-thinking from Ruth Johnston to secure a one-run win and maintain Greater Northern Raiders' perfect start to the women's season.
After three reasonably comfortable victories, the team's fourth Twenty20 match went down to the wire as Clarence needed three runs to win off the final delivery.
In-form batter Taylor Brooks hit Johnston's delivery to Caitlyn Webster at long-on and set off after the two runs that would have secured a tie.
Before taking Webster's throw, Johnston broke the stumps but had the composure to pull a stump out of the ground to affect the run-out and secure the win to the delight of coach Darren Simmonds.
"It was very quick thinking and probably only the second time I've seen that dismissal in my lifetime," he said.
"So to do it to win a game is very unusual."
Raiders had posted 7-103 with Johnston (20), Sasha Moloney (19) and Amy Duggan (18) leading the way as Maddison Brooks took 5-14.
In reply, Clarence recovered from a disastrous 3-6 with an 80-run fifth-wicket stand between Taylor Brooks (32) and Emily Smith (56 not out) which took them to the brink of victory.
With an injured Moloney unable to bowl, Hannah Magor led the attack with 2-19.
A dramatic momentum swing had seen Clarence collapse from a competitive position in the morning match to lose by nine wickets.
A third-wicket stand of 46 between Maddison Brooks and Smith had seen the visitors recover from 2-20 and appear ready to post a healthy total.
But that all changed when Johnston had Brooks caught by Sascha Lowry for 19.
Suddenly Clarence lost 3-0 including Smith for 31 and the last eight wickets fell for just 24 runs with no other batter registering double figures as the team was all out for 90.
Johnston finished on 3-13 although Belinda Vakarewa returned the best figures of 3-8 off four overs and Moloney added 2-20 in an excellent team bowling performance.
The Raiders' batters made short work of the chase, reaching the total inside 11 overs for the loss of just Johnston, whose quickfire 35 included three fours and two sixes. Moloney hit an unbeaten run-a-ball 37.
"In the first game we played some really good cricket," Simmonds added.
"We bowled well as a unit to create pressure and hold them to 90 which I thought was below par.
"In the second game, I'm always nervous in those situations but we were always in front despite that good partnership.
"Four wins is is a really positive start and something for us to build on going forward."
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
