This time Jack was the protagonist, his 65 lifting Souths to 240. Ryan Meppem also chipped in with 43, Caleb McNeill 40 and Brock Morley 36 while Chris Massey followed up his three successive half-centuries with 27. 

They have some work to do with the ball next week though with Old Boys’ 1-54 at stumps. Adam Lole is unbeaten on 24 and Jamie Mitchell 12 after Will Gell made 15 as a surprise opener.

“We thought we’d send him out there and see what he’s got,” Old Boys skipper Ben Middlebrook said of his star quick, who as they look to nurse ahead of the finals didn’t bowl.

Middlebrook stepped up to lead the charge with 4-72, while Corey Summers claimed a wicket in each of his three overs to finish with 3-14 in what Middlebrook thought was an under par fielding effort from his side.

“Our catching was pretty woeful,” he said.

“We would have put down eight or nine catches.”