Waratah 3/310 (50) defeated Tracy Village 9/172 (50) by 138 runs.
Tahs ensured they cemented second spot and a home semi with a dominant batting display at Tracy Village, nabbing a critical bonus point to stay in front of Palmerston on NRR. The Villagers tried hard with the white Kookaburra, but they just haven't been able to take wickets across 50 overs this season (bar an outlier in a stunning win over PINT in Round 4); no team apart from the Greens lost more than five wickets against Tracy across their other five matches. That lack of penetration was again on display as openers Aryan Jain and Isaac Conway started strongly with a 49-run stand before the diminutive right-hander was bowled by Darcy Gregory-Francis for 24 (Conway's lowest score in either format to date). Unfortunately for Tracy, that was their only shining moment throughout the innings as Jain (87 off 93) demonstrated his class alongside captain Jagadesh Koduru. Jain played two Sheffield Shield games for Queensland a tick over a year ago, and after recently losing his Bulls contract he will be hungry for big runs to force his way back into a rebuilding group. Koduru will surely be drawing the attention of Victorian selectors; his unbeaten 113 from only 111 balls included four maximums and a masterclass in Darwin limited overs batting. The man known as "Jagga" now has 484 runs at 161 in one-day cricket this season, and looms as the key wicket in a talent-laden batting order for finals this weekend. His innings was laced with trademark wristy drives square of the wicket on the off side, ably backed by Shashank Lokesh (49 off 42). Gregory-Francis has given it his all in both disciplines for the Villagers, his 1/48 (10) as good a reward as possible considering the carnage that unfolded around him.
Tahs weren't as clinical as Udara Weerasinghe would've liked outside the Power Play, although Noah McFadyen (2/33) impressed after a surprisingly slow start to his campaign. Guntaas Brar (41* off 57) held the shaky chase together with Gregory-Francis (38), including an unbroken 28-run partnership for the final wicket which would have no doubt chastened the Warriors. Leggie Archie McCormick continued his development by bowling 10 overs (2/43) in tandem with the two wily old foxes in the Weerasinghe brothers. A pretty straightforward win dominated by Tahs from the get-go. PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Jagadeswara Koduru (Waratah)
PINT 4/266 (50) lost to Palmerston 4/270 (36.4) by six wickets.
A high scoring shootout with only eight wickets falling to four bowlers across nearly 87 overs. Palmy's tight bowling in the Power Play meant PINT were always playing catch-up, but Mitch Doolan tried his absolute best in partnership with Coby Edmondstone (44 off 59) and then impressive keeper Connor Poulton (69 off 75) to give the foundering Greens attack something to bowl at. After being particularly watchful against the quality of opening bowler Matt Scoble (2/46), the Mackay product launched a savage assault at the death, including three consecutive sixes off the Power's talisman and best bowler Hamish Martin at the death as PINT hit the innings break with all the momentum. Doolan finished unbeaten on 133 off 149 balls, but little was he to know that his knock was to be surpassed shortly afterwards. Martin survived the late onslaught after a couple of early wickets to finish with 2/56 (10).
The Power sent injured youngster Ethan Anderson out to open against Doolan's left-arm orthodox, the result an easy catch to Edmondstone at long-on. That early dismissal left Palmerston 1/4, but regular opener and New Zealand import Caleb Montague knew exactly what was required. The pocket dynamo was busy straight away, playing some inventive but highly effective shots to manipulate the gaps as North Queensland product Aidan Firman stole the limelight. The lanky right-hander had obviously impressed those in the know at Woodroffe early doors; he was installed as opener in Round 1 and the Power have stuck with him despite middling returns before Saturday. That faith was well and truly repaid in kind with Firman launching 13 fours and eight bombs on his way to an incredible 130 from 87 balls, the Greens were visibly in shock over the carnage as the deep mid-wicket region was peppered thanks to some long levers and and slog sweeping. By the time he fell at 198, the Power were home and only had to worry about securing the bonus point to ensure their destiny date with Waratah remained a reality. Montague was overshadowed but equally as impressive en route to 92 (96), before his three-figure dream was cut short thanks to a Brad Ilott "luckle ball", beating the Palmy 'keeper's attempted sweep and spinning the other way off the wicket into his back pad. Palmy legends Alex Bleakley and captain Martin finished the job with more than 13 overs to spare in a commanding win. Doolan (2/77) copped some stick from Firman but continued to compete, whilst Ilott (2/51) was again superb bowling to the short boundary. PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Aidan Firman (Palmerston)
Southern Districts 255 (49.2) defeated Darwin 223 (48) by 32 runs.
The virtual knockout bout between these two perennial heavyweights was a cracking contest featuring finals-like intensity from the kick, Jackson Isakka (82 off 89 with six maximums) again the star as the Crocs piled on 255. Skipper Tim Garner continued his classy and ever-consistent season with 53 (68) in a stand with the big man worth 120 for the fifth wicket. Isakka copped a fair bit of stick from the Eagles over "barbecuing" Lachie Bangs after the power hitter had faced a solitary delivery; although Isakka had the last laugh by going on with it and posting what proved to be a winning total. The Crocs usually have plenty of batting depth; Matt Hammond was left stranded as Darwin pushed hard to claim 5/29 at the death. Star spinner Smit Raval has struggled over the past month; it was always a temporary thing as he returned to form with 4/36 (9.2) and will loom as serious threat after this weekend when he can bowl big overs with a red pill.
Darwin were without their opening weapon Jacob Dickman, although makeshift option Jordan Rossi surprised a few with a patient 75 to get things going with Atharv Deshpande (46 off 53) as the Eagles crossed 150 only one down. Mitch Jamieson (53) at first drop pushed his season average north of 40 with another composed knock, but once the famous Districts screws were applied the pressure simply became too much. Bangs starred at the death, his left-arm pace and accuracy critical as he claimed 4/48 to hold his nerve and target the stumps. Darwin captain Dan Kerber chipped one back to the evergreen Chris McEvoy first ball, before a set play with a catching cover the following ball saw Raval on his bike for a golden duck and the game was afoot. McEvoy's over changed the course of proceedings in just two deliveries, and once you give the Crocs a taste of blood they just seem to go up a gear and go for the kill. They may have squeaked into the one-day finals in fourth spot, but they are a serious chance of knocking off unbackable favourites Nightcliff on Saturday, make no mistake about that! PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Jackson Isakka (Southern Districts)