Wests' Nathan Iskra celebrates the wicket of Wollongong's Dane Yabsley during his team's upset win.
ILLAWARRA CRICKET
Wests Illawarra skipper Daniel Bogovac and teenage star Tylar Edwards smashed an unbroken 155-run partnership to shock Wollongong in round 10 of Illawarra cricket at Figtree Oval on Saturday.
Wollongong went into the first game in 2013 in second spot with Wests second-last, but Wests delivered their best performance of the season.
First Wests restricted Wollongong to 182, forcing two runouts with five bowlers taking a wicket, led by Nikhil Verma's 3-51.
Then after Wollongong hit back hard to have Wests 2-28 off 14 overs, Wests' ACT under 17s batsman Edwards (88 not out) and Bogovac (58 not out) combined for a match-winning stand.
"The real pleasing thing is it was a team-based win," Bogovac said.
"Five bowlers took a wicket, plus we had a couple of run-outs and we stood up with the bat. It's our best win this season for sure and we have to back it up this week against University."
Meanwhile, Keira spinner Jonathon Cook (3-8) claimed a hat-trick in the Lions' nine-wicket home belting of University.
Cook first had Uni opener Tom O'Brien (19) stumped, then trapped Peter Somerville leg before wicket, and with the first ball of his next over bowled Simon Irish.
Keira dismissed the last-placed students for 94 with Neel Honavar taking 4-31 and lost just one wicket in the run chase, with opener Mark Johnston (52 not out) top-scoring.
Corrimal continues to be Illawarra cricket's surprise packet after thrashing Dapto at Reed Park.
The Cougars stay in the hunt for the one-day semi-finals after routing Dapto for just 78 in a nine-wicket win.
Ben Rabjohns took 5-23 for Corrimal and Adam Brown 2-21, with Corrimal skipper Rob Fisher (39 not out) and Joe McDevitt (37 not out) polishing off the required runs in only 12.4 overs.
Meanwhile, Helensburgh skipper Tim Lloyd admitted his team got lucky with some umpiring decisions in the home win Port Kembla.
Having made only 124, the Burgh dismissed Port for 107 with Luke Falkiner and Steve Blissenden taking four wickets each.
Matt Scora had a great game for Port making 34 and taking 4-25.
In the other game, Northern Districts opener Matthew Salakas made a fine 63 to lead the Butchers to a 28-run win over Balgownie.
Norths posted 187, then rolled Bally for 159 with Neil Ryan taking 5-39. Adam Berwick made 49 for Bally.