West Tamworth have advanced to a preliminary final showdown against City United after a dramatic knockout final against North Tamworth at Riverside 1 finished in a rain-interrupted draw.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After a late start to the final day on Sunday due to rain, Wests just managed to avoid defeat when they finished on 8-83 in reply to Norths' 216.
Wests will meet City at No.1 Oval this weekend, for the right to play Old Boys in the grand final, at the same venue, in a fortnight.
Wests advanced because they finished the regular season above Norths on the ladder.
Shaun Stevenson, who produced a captain's knock for Wests to finish unbeaten on 33, praised Norths for what he described as a great club effort to get Riverside 1 ready for play on Sunday.
He also praised Redbacks No.4 Michael Rixon, whose 145 not out was the highest score this season (it is listed as 146 not out, off 151 balls, on the MyCricket website).
Josh Worpel (11 not out) was with Stevenson at the end.
READ ALSO:
North Tamworth's opening bowlers, Jai Tasker (4-39) and Adam Greentree (4-35), were the reason Stevenson described his side's innings as "a bit on edge".
"But luckily Josh and I got through to the end," he said. "Just really, really proud of the boys - it's just awesome."
Wests' right-arm seamer Elliot Bowen took 3-51 off 19.4 overs, but will not be available for the preliminary final.
