Albion was a player short but the reigning two-time premiers passed Mornington’s 158 for the loss of six wickets, while Court House protected its 124-run total against the Kookaburras.

At Kitchener Park, Albion had just nine players in the first four overs.

Mornington duo Sam Lumby and Tariq Habib punished loose balls during a 50-run opening stand before Andy and James Mack produced a collapse of 4-13.

Partnerships of 39 and 30 ensured a competitive total, with Trent Lumby top-scoring with 37 not out at number five while Jason Rose scored 22 at number seven.

Izaak Merlehan claimed three wickets while Albion conceded 24 sundries, before Mornington conceded 27 extras including 22 in illegitimate deliveries.

Ben Hennessy struck three times while Ben Maher chipped in as Albion fell to 4-50 before Andy Mack hit a flurry of boundaries. He registered three fours and four sixes, having struck two sixes and a four off consecutive balls before being bowled by Cameron Mitchell next ball.

Albion stumbled to 6-106 at drinks, and had just three wickets in hand while needing 53 runs.

Damien Baldwin guided Albion to victory in the 27th over as his undefeated 36 included seven fours, while James Mack made five not out.

As for whether he felt any pressure at 6-106, Baldwin said: “A little bit. The ball didn’t come out of the middle (of the bat) much to start with, but it worked (in the end).”

Baldwin said James Mack was a big help as the club’s president offered useful advice during their partnership.

Baldwin considered Albion’s fielding improved since round one while there were still some loose deliveries.

At Wolseley Park, the Kookaburras were left to wonder what might have been.

Brad Jenkinson claimed 4-12 as Court House sank to 9-75, before a dropped catch led to a match-turning last-wicket stand.

Ben Irwin scored 38 while Alex Beasley made 15 not out as the total reached 124, while the Kookaburras also rued 22 runs in wides.

The Kookaburras were 1-6 when Sam Doubleday held a great slips catch, before Adam McGuirk was run out for the second successive Saturday as the rot set in.

Only lower order duo Troy Sands (17) and Sam O’Gorman (11) registered double figures in a miserable total of 60.

Irwin completed a fine all-round display as he and Farran Lamb snared three scalps each, while Beasley struck twice and Anthony Daniels once.

Lamb considered his team’s batting was “a bit poor”, while the Kookaburras bowled a good line early on.

“The last partnership was big for us. It gave us something to bowl at,” Lamb said.

“It’s normally pretty hard to chase 120 at this ground.”

Lamb said taking early wickets “was a big thing” and that achieving this “gave us a lot of confidence”.