Palmerston defeated Southern Districts
Palmerston captain Hamish Martin has risen to new heights after claiming a career best nine-wicket haul to power his side into the DDCC two-day grand final.
The left-arm off spinner went on a rampage against Southern Districts, taking 9-52 to lead his side to a four-wicket win.
The Crocs were going along nicely at 0-67 before Martin struck with a caught and bowled and then proceeded to claim the Power’s next seven wickets.
Dylan Mullen top scored for the Crocs with 57 and skipper Tim Garner was next best with 30 as a total of 159 was conjured up.
Martin’s wicket tally for the season, including the one-day campaign, now rises to 48 in what is a clear competition best for aggregate wickets.
Rommel Shahzad was the other Power to claim the wicket in a dominant opening day for the home side at Cazalys Oval.
Just when you thought Martin had done enough in the game, the Power legend continued his excellent performance with an unbeaten 30 to see his side over the line alongside Alex Bleakley who finished 50 not out.
The pair were forced to do some work with the bat after Ethan Anderson and Cadell McMahon were both dismissed for ducks leaving the Power at 6-102, needing another 58 runs.
But a 61-run partnership from Martin and Bleakley steadied the ship as they so often have this season for the Power.
Martin was pleased with his side’s achievement of making it to the grand final.
“It was terrific, we set a plan at the start of the year to get to where we are now and to see it all come together was a great feeling,” he said.
“It took a lot more than 11 of us, we have trained pretty well as sort of a 22 with the b grade so it’s a terrific feeling but not really satisfied just yet.”
Andrew Bourne was the Crocs’ best bowler with the pacer taking 3-45. Meanwhile, leg spinner Dylan Mullen was also influential with two wickets.
Christopher McEvoy claimed the other wicket for the Crocs, getting the dangerous Caleb Montague out for 30 to give the Crocs a chance early in the innings.
But Aidan Firman helped calm the ship for the Power with a 29 coming in at No.4 before the two Power veterans completed the task to secure a place in the grand final.
The Power passed the Crocs score in 36 overs as Martin raced to the finish line with his unbeaten 30 coming from just 23 balls.
Waratah defeated Nightcliff
Ralph Wiese medallist Jagadesh Koduru has powered Waratah into the DDCC two-day grand final with a near-century against Nightcliff at Gardens Oval on Sunday.
Koduru struck a match winning 98 to steer the Warriors beyond the Tiger’s score of 8-256 in a stellar performance from the skipper.
Coming in at No.3, Koduru helped take his side to a dominant position at 4-203 before being dismissed for the fifth wicket.
Udara Weerasinghe (26) and Sasith Livera (18*) made handy scores following Koduru’s departure to see the Warriors over the line.
Weerasinghe was full of praise for Koduru's knock which continues a stellar season for the first-year Warriors captain.
"Phenomenal, it's actually outstanding, remarkable," he said about Koduru's knock.
"He has come through and taken up the leadership and his batting, he just bats without any pressure and keeps doing his business.
"His season has been an unbelievable achievement so far."
Earlier, Aryan Jain made 54 opening the batting and Rhonan Appleby scored 20 for the Tahs.
Andrew Richards was the Tigers’ leading wicket getter with 3-89 while Charlie Smith (2-58) and Douwtjie Hoogenboezem (2-44) were vital in keeping the Tigers in it until the end.
The Warriors passed the score with three wickets in hand as late wickets fell at 6-245 and 7-253 to spark the chance of an unlikely win.
In the first innings, Tigers No.4 Paul Wasiewicz was the Warriors’ biggest challenge as the crafty bat scored an unbeaten 61 off 147 deliveries.
Hoogenboezem scored 56 opening the batting before Madura Weerasinghe Silva found a way through to bowl the dangerous bat.
He also claimed No.3 Tyler Van Luin for 37 as other Tigers also failed to make the most of solid starts.
Lachlan Ball scored 34 coming in at No.6 and Nick Wheeler scored 35 at No.7 as the Tigers set 8-256 after 80 overs.
Udara Weerasinghe claimed 3-67 for the Warriors in another important bowling performance from the side.