The Tigers bowled McDonalds out in the final over to hold on for a three-run win and keep their finals hopes alive.

“It was a bit close for comfort,” Tigers skipper Adam Jones conceded.

It was still a “a terrific win” and one they needed.

“The wicket wasn’t all that great. It was hard to score on,” he said.

“We did well to bat our 20 overs out. 

“In the end that was the difference.”

They scratched their way to 9-103 with Tyson Rennie top-scoring with 26. Daniel Redshaw also chipped in with 14 and Jack Richards 10, he and Rennie putting on 31 for the third wicket to rebuild after they’d lost Jones and Michael Rixon early.

Spin proved their undoing with Dave Brannan bagging 3-19 and Jye Paterson 3-18 to back up the opening efforts of Tait Jordan.

McDonalds then made a steady start with Warrick Fazakerley hitting 16, Toby Whale 24 and skipper Dave Mudaliar 12 to have them 4-66, but the innings fell away after that. 

The Tigers at one stage took five wickets in the space of about eight balls including a team hat-trick.

Jordan (8no) and Brad Walters (12) though still almost got McDonalds home. After needing seven off the final over, they got it down to four off three when Cooper Barnes ran out Walters.

As was the case earlier spin did the damage with Richards claiming 3-12 and Rixon 2-7. Lachlan Cooke also chimed in with 2-14.

“Jack Richards was exceptional with the ball,” Jones said.

All the spinners bowled well, he said, and really took control of the game after McDonalds had “started off on fire”. Rixon was given the last over duties and did a great job, giving the McDonalds batsmen nothing.

Next door Steggles made it four from four and locked in a finals spot with a seven wicket win chasing win over Sportspower.

Sportspower made a bright start with Dean Hoy (16) and Josh Dawson (27) putting on 36 for the first wicket at better than a run a ball. But they weren’t able to capitalise with wickets falling at regular intervals, and could only manage 9-119.

Dan Bryant, Harrison Kelly and Harrison Hague shared the top wicket honours for Steggles with two apiece.

The competition leaders then chased the runs down with over two overs to spare and only three wickets down.

Kelly (29) and Mitch Swain (23) set the tone with a 52 run opening stand, and were well backed up by Campbell Baker (28) and Shawn Mepham (23).

AJ Pretorius was the best with the ball for Sportspower with 2-4.