By Elliot Stevenson
Clarence is hoping to secure a two-day victory at home over University on Saturday before travelling to face Kingborough in a win-or-go-home Kookaburra Cup semi-final.
The Roos dominated the opening day of the two-day season, declaring at 3-194 before taking five wickets late in the day at Kangaroo Bay Oval.
Sam Rainbird (3/13 off 6 overs) tore through the Lions top order, but it was Lawrence Neil-Smith (173 off 165 balls) and Ryan Borsboom (129 not out off 187 balls) who took the spotlight.
Roos coach Shane Holland admitted the day “couldn’t have gone any better” for his side.
“It was great,” he said. “It was really positive for us.”
“It was really pleasing to see the guys get in, and once they got in, they got stuck in and made the most of it.
“It was a good day from a batting perspective, and to finish with a few wickets at the end as well.”
The partnership between Neil-Smith and Borsboom totalled 221, comfortably the largest of any pair this season, and was Neil-Smith’s first century for the club since 2023.
“[Neil-Smith] is a quality batsman, and we’ve seen that before at first-class level, just not at club level,” Holland said. “He was outstanding.”
“All the credit really should go to his skipper, Justin Galeotti, who came up with the idea to put [Lawrence] at the top of the order.
“And Lawrence really paid that trust back and put a big one on the board, which was really pleasing to see.”
It had also been nearly two years since Borsboom had brought up triple-figures, having done so against North Hobart in January of 2024.
Holland praised Borsboom’s work ethic and determination.
“He's been working really hard on his batting, and it hadn't been going his way to that point in the season,” he said.
“To see him stick it out in the middle and make sure he turned it into a big one was really pleasing for our whole group.”
It was the perfect preparation for Sunday’s clash with Kingborough, as a spot in next weekend’s decider at Ninja Stadium looms.
Holland says his side are relishing the opportunity to make a play for the first piece of available silverware of the season.
“It is exciting,” he said. “We're really looking forward to heading down to the Twin Ovals and trying to reverse the result of our last trip down there.”
“We've got a couple of players back from the last time we played against Kingborough, so we’re really looking forward to the opportunity to put a full game together and see if we can progress to the final.”
The Knights have a much tougher task ahead of themselves, needing 301 runs to beat Lindisfarne after a brilliant day-one knock from Lightning captain Tom McGann (161 off 200 balls).
Kingborough lost its own skipper in Dylan Hay just before stumps but will still have confidence that a successful chase is possible having ran down 305 against North Hobart a fortnight ago.
Competition leading run-scorer Zac Curtain (406 runs at an average of 135.33) will no doubt be key to any potential Knights victory in both games this weekend.
Lindisfarne will be hoping to take momentum into its semi-final at Invermay Park against Greater Northern on Sunday with a victory of its own against Kingborough.
The Raiders will be keeping a keen eye on the result as they enjoy a day off on Saturday.
South Hobart-Sandy Bay is nearing its first win of the season, having enjoyed a day out with the bat last Saturday at KGV Oval.
Glenorchy won the toss and sent the visitors in, a decision punished by a quartet of Sharks in Tom Willoughby (56 off 150 balls), Will Prestwidge (84 off 113 balls), Sam Voss (45 off 84 balls), and Harry Thomson (42 not out off 118 balls).
Finishing the day at 7-287, Thomson and the Sharks will resume in their quest for the first points of the season on Saturday.
New Town is in the box seat against North Hobart, needing 75 runs to win at the TCA Ground.
Caelan Maladay starred for the Bucks with the ball, taking 6/52 off 19 overs and restricting the Demons to a first innings score of 165.
Joe Randall (42 not out off 104 balls) and Josh Hartill (19 not out off 68 balls) will resume play at the crease for the visitors, as they continue to make a play for the top four.
In the women’s competition, Clarence will be eagerly awaiting its opponent for next Sunday’s T20 Grand Final at Ninja Stadium.
The Roos play twice this weekend, against the third-placed Greater Northern Raiders and the already eliminated Kingborough, both on Sunday.
With a record of eight wins and two losses, Clarence cannot miss the final but can still finish second behind the Raiders.
Greater Northern will need to defeat Clarence and Kingborough to have any hope of beating out North Hobart for second position.
That possibility also hinges on New Town knocking off the Demons in all three of the scheduled matches between the two sides both this Sunday and next Thursday.
Either way, Sunday’s T20s are set to be action-packed and filled with spectacular performances.
Michaela Kirk is once again poised to be the standout player for ladder leaders Clarence, having scored a half-century and an unbeaten century last weekend against North Hobart and New Town.
Demon Melodie Armstrong (88 not out off 59 balls) and Buck Ailsa Lister (85 off 48 balls) will no doubt create some stiff competition for the South African.