SG Moore Cup: Wrap, results, standouts from the quarterfinals
There was another final-ball thriller and an upset for the ages as the SG Moore Cup was turned on its head with some thrilling quarterfinals.
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The SG Moore Cup has been turned on its head following a series of surprise results during a dramatic round of quarterfinals.
There were two big upsets, including an epic boilover that tore up the form guide, as teams battled it out for spots in the final four.
Elsewhere, two other teams went down to the final ball in another thrilling clash.
Catch up with a wrap of the action below.
SMALL LEADS STOCKTON TO EPIC UPSET
Stockton has pulled off the upset of the tournament after thrashing Merewether by 69 runs in a stunning boilover to book a spot in the semi-final.
Coming into the game winless after finishing the regular rounds in eighth position, the Seagulls tore up the form guide thanks to a devastating innings by Tremayne Small and wonderful team bowling performance to hand first-placed Merewether its first defeat of the competition and subsequently end its title defence.
Having struggled with the bat so far in the tournament with scores of 65, 65, 60 and 97, Stockton flipped the script in the quarterfinal clash, posting a total of 4-138 from its 20 overs.
Small was by far the pick of the batters, blasting three fours and six sixes on the way to a devastating knock of 81 not out. He was well supported by knocks of 28 from Ethan Hayter and 17 from Benjamin Leroux Miny.
In response, Merewether had no answers to the Seagulls’ attack and was bowled out for just 69 inside 15 overs.
Miny, Cooper Digney and Michael Dempsey all picked up two wickets in what was a stunning turnaround for the side, which had previously only taken 16 wickets in four games throughout the tournament.
The stunning upset reverses the round two clash between the sides, which saw Merewether comfortably win by 57 runs, and sees Stockton progress through to what many would have considered a very unlikely semi-final.
The loss marks the end of Merewether’s campaign, with the Lions having played some sparkling cricket during the regular rounds to win four from four and finish on top of the ladder.
BELMONT PREVAILS IN FINAL-OVER THRILLER
Stockton will take on Belmont in the semi-final after the Whips prevailed in a dramatic final-over thriller against Charlestown.
With Belmont setting 122 to win, the game went down to the wire. Charlestown required 13 off the final over and then five off the last ball, however the team could only manage a bye from the final delivery as the Magpies ultimately fell three runs short on 5-118 from its 20 overs.
It was a welcome victory for Belmont, who would have been feeling a sense of deja vu after the team found itself in the exact same position in the round four clash against Newcastle City, only for Sabres all-rounder Sairam Patil to hit a six off the final ball in the heartbreaking loss.
Batting first, Belmont’s Central Coast guest players Simon Alderson and Vincent Thornley continued their excellent form to get the team off to a bright start.
Thornley hit 18 off 24 while Alderson chalked up his third half-century from as many knocks with 56 from 52 balls as the side finished up on 8-121 from its 20 overs.
Aarham Shah continued his strong tournament for Charlestown by taking 3-18 from his four overs.
Chasing slightly more than a run a ball, Charlestown made a strong start through Shah and Elliott Bullen.
The team was travelling nicely until Billy McIlveen struck in the ninth over by dismissing Shah for 21 and Rouidullah Wafa for a golden duck.
While Riley Sharples (32) came in for Charlestown to keep the run rate flowing, some tight bowling from McIlveen saw the required run rate start to edge higher.
And although the Magpies hit 37 from the last five overs, it ultimately proved to be too much as they finished three runs short.
The victory and semi-final spot caps off a remarkable comeback from Belmont, which since a round one rout at the hands of Merewether has won three of its four games, thanks in no small part to guest players Alderson and Thornley.
As for Charlestown, the loss puts an end to an entertaining campaign that saw the side involved in three nailbiting clashes, including a game that went to a super over in round three.
WESTS IMPRESS IN 10-WICKET DRUBBING
Wests remain the only undefeated side left in the competition and firmed as tournament favourites after thrashing Waratah-Mayfield by 10 wickets in its quarterfinal at Harker Oval.
Bowling first, the Rosellas ripped through the Tahs’ batting line-up, dismissing five players for ducks as their rivals were bowled out for just 35.
Left-arm spinner Leo Thornton continued his excellent tournament with figures of 3-2 from two overs, while Joseph Vandenbergh picked up two wickets in what was a dominant display.
Izaan Mohammed (16) showed the lone form of resistance with the bat and was remarkably the only Waratah-Mayfield player to score more than one run.
In response, Wests openers Koby Blight (17*) and Max Surjan (14*) made light work of the chase, cruising past the total after just 5.1 overs to book a semi-final spot.
It caps off a very impressive tournament so far from Wests, who will go into the semi-final with a record of five wins from five.
NEWCASTLE CITY KEEPS DREAM ALIVE
Newcastle City has kept its hopes of atoning for last year’s grand final loss alive with a stunning upset victory over Hamwicks at Townson Oval.
Coming into the game having finished sixth and taking on the third-placed Pumas, City turned on the fireworks to restrict Hamwicks to 92 before blasting past the total without losing a wicket and with more than 10 over to spare.
After being sent into bat, Hamwicks struggled to get going as regular wickets kept the run rate down.
Opener Xavier Dean top scored with 18 while just three players got into double figures.
George Verth was the pick of the bowlers for City with 2-16 from four overs, while Callum van Huisstede (2-9), Will Parkinson (1-14) and Archer Freeman (1-5) were also among the wickets.
While the Pumas struggled for momentum in their dig, it was the complete opposite for City as openers Verth and Hayden Checker blew the Hamwicks attack away.
Verth in particular was in rare form, hitting 10 fours in a stunning knock of 66 not out from just 33 balls, while Checker finished unbeaten on 21 from 25 balls as City cruised past the target after just 9.4 overs.
The victory puts an emphasis on a sharp turnaround in form from the Sabres, who after losing their opening two games have now won three on the bounce and will take on Wests in a blockbuster semi-final.
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