By Elliot Stevenson
Superstar South Hobart-Sandy Bay recruit Nitesh Samuel powered the Sharks to their opening victory of the 2026-27 season, defeating Lindisfarne by 24 runs yesterday afternoon.
Samuel hit 133 off 137 balls in a statement innings, leading the Sharks to a total of 6-289 at Lindisfarne Oval.
Coach Richard Allanby isn’t hiding his excitement at having the talented former Australian under-19 representative and rookie-contracted Tiger at his disposal.
“He's a class batter and he's fitted really well into our club at the top of the order,” he said.
“Yesterday he just went about his business and then accelerated at the end when we really needed him to with Harry Thomson with a nice little partnership.
“It set us up with a good total to be able to defend.”
Prasanna Ketheeshwaran was diligent for Lindisfarne, taking 4-66 off 10 overs.
In response, in-form opener Keegan Oates led the way for the Lightning, making 97 off 117 balls and putting together a 121-run partnership with Paxton Smart (56 off 92 balls).
But a combination of captain Sam Voss’ (4-42 off 10 overs) fast-bowling and Tom Willoughby’s (3-52 off 10 overs) off-spin ensured the Sharks would take their first points of the season away from Anzac Park.
Allanby commended the pair, as well as leg-spinner Cadence Kuepper, on their performances.
“Sam Voss stepped up, he had a good day with the ball,” he said.
“There was a really short boundary and our spinners in Tommy Willoughby and Cadence did really well as well with the ball.
“They bowled some really important tight overs.”
Lindisfarne managed a respectable 9-265, but it was South Hobart-Sandy Bay which was victorious and will now look to make it two wins in three days against North Hobart tomorrow.
“It was good reward for our boys after having two, I suppose you could say close losses to Kingborough and Greater Northern where we were probably in winning positions at some stages,” Allanby said.
“It was nice to get across the line yesterday against some good opposition in Lindisfarne.
“We just need to keep playing the way we're playing and keeping hold of the momentum from yesterday.
“But we're also mindful that we need to start again and make sure that we're playing the way that we want to and keeping our standards where we need them to be.”
Lindisfarne will head to Launceston with a date set against the Greater Northern Raiders at Invermay Park on Sunday.
North Hobart, meanwhile, suffered a four-wicket loss to New Town at the TCA Ground, with the Bucks getting across the line with 11 balls remaining.
Several Demons got starts but were unable to convert into milestones, with off-season recruit Will Taylor taking 4-45 off 10 overs for New Town.
Chasing 241, Josh Hartill bested his top score of the season with 81 off 123 balls, before Taylor added to his player of the match candidacy, securing victory for his side with a powerful 48-ball, 52 not out.
The Bucks host Clarence tomorrow in a top four clash of two of the in-form teams in the CTPL.
Kingborough won in dominant fashion over University at the Twin Ovals, with Brad Hope (69 off 111 balls) the only Lion making it past 20.
Knights playing-coach Tom Martyn (3-21 off eight overs) led a pace attack that Uni were unable to keep out, being bowled out for 150.
Zac Curtain top-scored for Kingborough in a relatively comfortable chase, making 47 off 69 balls.
The Knights will enjoy the bye, while University heads to Ferguson Park to face the Northern Magpies.
In the women’s competition, a quartet of T20s on Sunday are headlined by CTPL cricket making its way to Ulverstone.
The winless Greater Northern Raiders will host reigning premiers North Hobart in a pair of white-ball matches at UCI Oval.
The Demons won their opening T20 match against Clarence at the TCA Ground last Sunday, with coach Julia Cavanough starring with an unbeaten 42 off 32 balls.
A blockbuster match at New Town Oval between two undefeated teams in New Town and Kingborough will also unfold on Sunday.
The two sides are yet to meet this season and haven’t played each other since a one-day match in February, which Kinborough won by eight wickets.
New Town also hosts Clarence later the same afternoon at the bike track, a side still searching for its first victory of the season.