Kingborough remain undefeated in the women’s Kookaburra Cup, defeating New Town in a rain-affected affair away from home on Sunday.
The Knights effortlessly chased down a revised total after a downpour hit New Town Oval with the Bucks having batted just 19 overs for 2-92.
The late wickets of New Town openers Jessica Bohn (25 off 50 balls) and Vanessa Dobson (32 off 45 balls) ensured the DLS-determined chase would be achievable for Kingborough.
Playing-coach Emily Divin was thrilled to come away with the points despite a topsy-turvy day of cricket.
“It was very pleasing given the weather conditions,” she said. “We were on and off all day and at many points looked like we might not get the game in.”
“Those early season points are really important and it was awesome to get the job done in the end.”
Despite New Town being in a strong position when the rain struck, the economy rates of the Knights bowlers ensured their required total did not balloon out of control.
The Bucks went at 4.84 runs per over, a respectable pace in the one-day format, but the misfortune of the shortening of the game made a T20-style approach more effective.
“We knew that we sort of only needed a few wickets to get into their middle lower order, which we felt we could get through pretty quickly,” Divin said.
“It took a little while to get that first break through, but we bowled tight and we bowled good areas and we knew that if we could restrict them, the wickets would certainly come.
“We got those couple just before the rain came and we certainly knew had we bowled longer, we felt confident in getting the rest done for a reasonable score and hopefully set us up for a good chase.”
The rain halted that plan however, and the Knights were forced to decide the game with the bat.
Kingborough adopted a T20 strategy, and through Divin (35 not out off 28 balls) and leading run-scorer Amy Gordon (72 not out off 49 balls), were able to storm home.
Finishing at 1-132 off 13 overs, the win was made relatively easy by the power of Gordon and the experience of Divin.
“She hits the ball well and is a striker,” Divin said. “So my job was pretty simple, just to get her on strike, really.”
“We were set a pretty high target with a DLS, it pretty much made it a T20 for us.
“We just had to keep the strike ticking over.
“The rain came about 13 overs in, so we weren't quite sure that that would constitute a game.
“But with the overs we lost coming off for the rain, it meant we'd actually already reached the target.
“DLS works in funny ways, as we all know.
“We felt we were up against it with a high score to get.
“I just had to get her on strike and that looked after the rest.
“She did a great job.”
Clarence’s Tabatha Saville peeled off an impressive century against North Hobart, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the T20 premiers at the TCA Ground.
Saville (103 off 95 balls) is averaging 111.67 so far this season and is seventh in the leading run scorer tallies across the competition.
Her first century of the season helped Clarence to 167, with Ella Marsh (4/45 off 8 overs) doing the damage with the ball for North Hobart.
The Demons responded in turn through Caitlin Mair (75 not out off 69 balls) and Naomi Stalenberg (56 off 36 balls), securing the win in 23.4 overs.
The result means North Hobart moves to 2-0 in the Kookaburra Cup as it searches for a double-premiership season, while Clarence needs to improve its 0-3 record if it is to return to another grand final.
In the men’s competition, a valiant effort from Lindisfarne to chase down New Town’s 8-378 was cut short by seamer Caelan Maladay (5/73 off 18.3 overs).
Maladay took the key wickets of Charlie Wakim and both McGann brothers as Lindisfarne was bowled out for 237.
Last week’s batting onslaught led by Jayden Vince (209 off 176 balls) proved more than enough for New Town to win comfortably at the bike track.
The Bucks perfect record in two-day cricket continues, having won three from three over the last month.
Lindisfarne bounced back on Sunday, defeating the Greater Northern Raiders in a rain-affected home T20.
Wakim would not be denied this time around, belting 106 off 49 balls for his fifth century in the CTPL this season.
The Lightning star’s insatiable form has put him at the apex of the run scoring totals in the competition as he continues to lead a young Lindisfarne squad.
Cooper Anthes (51 off 27 balls) continued his strong form for the Raiders, but it was not to be for the Kookaburra Cup premiers in their first T20 of the season.
Greater Northern was victorious on Saturday, however, defeating South Hobart-Sandy Bay at Queenborough.
Sam Omahony converted a century early in the day, playing his way to an unbeaten 107 off 120 balls as the Raiders declared at 8-355 with a 248-run first innings lead.
With an outright on their mind, the Raiders began to tear through the South Hobart-Sandy Bay again, but Sharks skipper Sam Voss (71 off 119 balls) and Tom Willoughby (75 off 108 balls) held firm.
The Sharks managed 7-249 before the end of play, a positive sign as they continue to search for their first victory this season in all formats.
Another near outright occurred at the Twin Ovals, with Kingborough putting the sword to Glenorchy on Saturday.
The Knights extended their first innings total from 8-277 to 312 early in the day, with Glenorchy’s Trent Le Rossignol (6/60 off 21 overs) displaying his brilliance with the ball.
The next portion of the game was less of a contest between bat and ball, with the Knights bowlers tearing through Glenorchy’s defences.
The Magpies managed just 135, being sent back in by Tom Martyn and company with half of the day remaining.
Cameron Walter (5/40 off 16 overs) put a scare in the Glenorchy camp, but the team in black managed to survive the day with two wickets remaining (8-145).
Vishwa Deemantha (45 off 86 balls) was the best with the bat for the Magpies.
A late collapse from North Hobart ensured Clarence remain first on the CTPL ladder with a perfect record in two-day cricket.
The Roos posted 219 last weekend, with left-arm seamer James Wilson taking 6/83 off 19 overs for the Demons.
Sanjay Anandarajah led the chase for North Hobart at the TCA Ground, playing his way to a classy 61 not out off 152 balls.
But it was not to be for the Demons as the they fell 16 runs short of Clarence’s total.
Kieran Elliott (4/48 off 21 overs) and Sam Rainbird (3/34 off 28 overs) proved their class as the Roos continued on their merry way.
Sunday’s T20 between the two sides saw the same result occur, with this time Clarence being able to chase effectively away from home.
Keshana Fonseka (45 off 35 balls) hit four sixes to lead the Demons to 7-126, before inclement weather heavily affected the match.
Elliott (3/24 off 4 overs) again was a thorn in the Demons’ side, as was crafty off-spinner Blake Garrett (3/22 off 4 overs).
A revised total of 59 was comfortably chased by the Roos in 6.5 overs, with Shane Holland’s side moving to 2-0 in the T20 competition.