Lions reach T20 grand final after surviving Park scare

Royals have survived a late scare from Collingwood Park to progress to the inaugural Albany Cricket Association under-19 Twenty20 grand final, after winning their last regular game by five runs on Friday night.

Set 126 to win, Park were 5-82 with five overs left as Kohen Lemin and Andre Sutherland shared in a terrific sixth wicket partnership.

Sutherland was bowled by Joe Alvin for 24 in the 19th over and that ended a 58-run stand as Park required 20 more runs to win.

Park needed 14 runs to win off the final over but Lions seamer Tom Hunt held his nerve with the ball as he helped restrict Park to only eight runs as they finished on 6-120 with Lemin not out on 35.

The Lions shared the wickets around, six bowlers taking a wicket each with Digby Nuthall (1-4) returning the best figures from his two overs.

Strong contributions from Alvin (26), Hunt (21) and Luke Ellis (16) ensured the Lions reached a defendable target of 125 batting first.

Josh Duffield took 2-12 off three overs and Lemin also snared 2-6, including the key wicket of Lions skipper Tom Wolfe for four.

That result ensured the Lions progressed to this Friday’s decider against unbeaten Railways outfit.

The Tigers were comfortable winners over Manypeaks in their clash last week, chasing down 118.

Peaks reached 4-117 from their 20 overs batting first but the Tigers raced past that total and went on to finish 1-164.

Sam Want blasted an unbeaten 77 and Aidan Dallimore finished 49 not out for the Tigers as they head into the final having won all three qualifying games.