By Elliot Stevenson
Greater Northern Raiders women’s captain Ava Curtis made her second century in a week, lifting her side to a T20 victory over New Town at the TCA Ground.
Curtis blasted 131 off just 78 balls against the Bucks on Sunday, days after making an unbeaten run-a-ball 104 for Tasmania Second XI against South Australia last Tuesday.
The young skipper opened the batting with Alice McLauchlan, who made a half-century of her own, hitting 53 not out off 42 balls.
A 191-run partnership led the Raiders to 1-193, before a comprehensive team bowling performance secured a 74-run victory.
“We obviously had a fairly rough start to the season, but Ava's knock especially was pretty awesome to see,” McLauchlan said.
“Wickets shared around and everything, so it was a good team effort and pretty happy with the girls, to be honest.
“We're a super young side in general, so I think the fact that everyone's been so resilient at such a young age is testament to all the girls.
“I’m super proud of them for keeping on showing up each week. It was good to have a good win, and then also a pretty close loss to North Hobart who have been the benchmark for the last couple of years.”
The Raiders fell narrowly short in the morning game, losing by seven-wickets to the reigning premiers, with Curtis making 67 off 45 balls.
Montana Bradley also chipped in with 45 not out off 51 balls, but North Hobart young gun Mia Barwick led the winning Demon chase with an unbeaten 71 off 57 balls.
McLauchlan heaped praise on Curtis’ leadership and batting prowess, despite being relatively young herself.
“To be able to captain the side and still be able to put together scores like that at such a young age is pretty awesome,” she said.
“She's only still young herself and has been leading the crew for the last two years. I'm very proud of her as a friend as well, and not just her, but the whole team.
“There's a lot of positivity around the group.
“So, just carrying that into training and into next week's game as well is I think all we need to do. We've got a super keen group.”
The Raiders won by six-wickets over Clarence the weekend before last and have started to enter some form as the T20 season progresses.
North Hobart followed up its morning victory with a strong win over title rivals Kingborough, with Mia Barwick (38 off 30 balls) continuing her momentum alongside opening partner Caitlin Mair (41 off 35 balls).
The Demons posted 5-152, defending it by 20 runs despite a half-century from last season’s Kim Fazackerley medallist Amy Gordon (53 off 47 balls).
Kingborough will not be disheartened by the loss, as it triumphed over Clarence at Lindisfarne Oval early on Sunday morning.
Tanja Lee (49 not out off 59 balls) starred for the Roos, but 7-108 was not defendable as the Knights stormed home to win by seven wickets with 7.1 overs remaining.
In the men’s competition, both New Town and Clarence won semi-finals to book their places in this weekend’s Kookaburra Cup final, which will now be held at New Town Oval.
Bucks’ spinner Jayden Vince took 4-22 off 10 overs against the Greater Northern Raiders, including the key wicket of opener Tom Dwyer (56 off 74 balls).
The Raiders managed 156, a total that was quickly diminished and defeated by Jai Lemire (72 off 59 balls) and New Town.
The result means that reigning premier Greater Northern will not defend its Kookaburra Cup crown.
A difficult day for batting at the Twin Ovals saw Clarence triumph over Kingborough and cement its place in the grand final.
21-year-old leg-spinner James Scott had his best game of the season so far, taking 4-34 off 10 overs as Clarence were bowled out for 202.
Sam Leon was the only Roo to pass fifty, making 58 off 48 balls in a strong display of hitting.
In reply, no Kingborough batter was able to get going except for playing-coach Tom Martyn, whose 55 not out off 66 balls proved inconsequential as the Knights were dismissed for 175.
Seamer Daniel Meredith took 4-24, a season-high wickets tally for the experienced Roo.
On Saturday, the two-day competition began with runs aplenty despite several weather interventions, particularly for South Hobart-Sandy Bay at Queenborough against the Northern Magpies.
Will Prestwidge (78 off 93 balls) began strongly for the Sharks, before Tom Willoughby (69 not out off 81 balls) carried on late into the afternoon.
Willougby will resume at the crease alongside Sean Willis (44 not out off 44 balls) with the Sharks 3-292.
The runs did not abate at the TCA Ground as Josh Hartill made his second century of the season, playing his way to a classy 117 not out off 208 balls.
Hartill’s two partners in Joe Randall (52 off 75 balls) and Jai Lemire (59 not out off 88 balls) both made half-centuries, with the Bucks sitting pretty at 1-229.
The first meeting between Kingborough and Clarence of the weekend was headlined by half-centuries from Ryan Borsboom (73 not out off 144 balls) and Archie Hurd (65 off 103 balls), and the Roos’ domination of their opponents.
At 3-224, Clarence is in the box seat heading into this weekend.
University found it a touch more difficult to pile on runs on Saturday against Lindisfarne, but still managed 7-228 before stumps.
Off-season recruit Harshtik Bimbral put together his best knock of the season, making 93 off 119 balls in a classy display.
A number of astonishing catches from Lindisfarne wicketkeeper Tom McGann kept the Lightning on top, including a leg-side snag to dismiss the dangerous Bimbral.
McGann continued his excellent form behind the stumps this season and will likely be key in this weekend's run chase.