Oak Flats batsman Michael Arblaster in action. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Keira and Wollongong are chasing the Illawarra Twenty20 crown on Sunday, while four clubs are in contention for the South Coast trophy ahead of their semi-finals and final.
Last month, Keira beat Corrimal in a tight Twenty20 semi-final, while Wollongong powered to a nine-wicket win over Balgownie in their semi.
The respective skippers, Graeme Batty (Keira) and Dave Studholme (Wollongong), will be key figures tomorrow, while Wollongong’s Troy Yabsley hammered an unbeaten 78 against Bally and has two half centuries in three Twenty20 innings this season.
Keira all-rounder Jonathon Cook is Twenty20’s leading wicket-taker, with 13 scalps in five matches, and is second in the batting aggregate with 125 runs in five innings.
The final is from 2pm on Sunday at North Dalton Park.
Meanwhile, Oak Flats take on Kiama and Shellharbour face Gerringong in the semi-finals of the South Coast Twenty20 comp.
Oak Flats have been in great form in Twenty20 with six wins and a draw.
Both games start 9.30am on Saturday.
Though bottom of the combined two-day and one-day competitions, Kiama have won three Twenty20 games, plus had two draws to make the semis.
Kiama skipper Dan Reilly said his team ‘‘have a sniff’’ against Oak Flats.
‘‘We bowled them out for 100 only a couple of weeks ago and, though we didn’t win, we reckon we have to be some chance,’’ Reilly said.
In this afternoon’s opening day of round 13 in the South Coast comp, Albion Park host Gerringong/Jamberoo and Kiama are at home to Lake Illawarra.
Oak Flats host Shellharbour at Geoff Shaw Oval and The Rail face Warilla at Croome Oval.
In the Illawarra one-day comp, fourth-placed Corrimal host third-placed Wollongong.