Bective East veteran Adam Jones has hailed the newfound self-belief of the Bulls' young brigade as the side moved tantalising close to a rare finals berth.
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Jones described as "very important" the side's 11-run one-day win over North Tamworth at No 1 Oval on Saturday.
The win solidified fourth spot on the ladder for the Bulls. With one round remaining before the finals, they are 12-and-a-half points clear of fifth-placed South Tamworth, who kept their season alive with a four-wicket win over West Tamworth at Riverside 2 on Saturday.
In the final-round two-dayers, Bective East play second-placed City United at Riverside 2, while Souths confront minor premiers Old Boys at No 1 Oval.
The Bulls' last loss was a Twenty20 clash against Old Boys on December 21. They have won four-straight matches since then.
Jones said "something really drastic" would have to happen for Bective not to book their first finals berth since the 2015-16 season, after they made 179 against Norths and then removed the Redbacks for 168.
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Bulls captain Jye Paterson starred with the bat, opening the innings and making a 92-ball 64.
Jones handed the captaincy to Paterson last season. He said the allrounder was starting to come into his own as a player and a skipper and his teammates were "feeding" off him.
Jones, who took 3-10 off six overs on Saturday, said: "A few of the younger guys are now starting to back their talented and understand that they've got talent - just believe in themselves.
"And we're finding ways to win; games that we wouldn't have won in the last few years. And that's the difference. Talk about Old Boys: they just always find a way to win.
"I think these young guys are really starting to understand what it takes to win games of cricket in those key moments."
Michael Rixon top-scored for third-placed Norths with 59, while Adam Greentree took 4-30 off seven overs for the Redbacks.
At Riverside 2, Umair Nasir took 3-19 off eights over as sixth-placed West Tamworth were removed for 138.
No 8 Travis Ling (47 not out) and No 7 Luke Smith (45 not out) then got Souths home after the side slumped to 6-46. Souths secured the win in the 34th over.
At Riverside 1, City United were removed for 140 in the 40th over after being put into bat.
Veteran Troy Sands (3-25) and youngster Landan Price (3-37) were Old Boys' most effective bowlers, while Callum Henry (35) top-scored for City.
Old Boys passed the total in the 38th over with eight wickets down. Ben Middlebrook (34 not out) top-scored.
