An opening day virtual washout has put pressure on Illawarra cricket’s premiership contenders with Saturday’s round 12 to have a huge bearing on the minor premiership and top four standings.
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Just 9.1 overs of the Balgownie versus Port Kembla game was possible in round 12 last Saturday with the match to continue under two-day rules and an extra 40 minutes added to the playing time.
The other four first grade matches revert to hybrid one-dayers with special conditions to ensure each team is entitled to an even share of batting time.
With next Saturday’s final round set down as one-dayers the leading clubs will basically play back-to-back one-dayers before the two-day format of the semi-finals on March 14-15.
Leaders Helensburgh have just a two point buffer from equal second-placed University and Corrimal with Balgownie a close-up fourth heading into the penultimate round.
The top four is virtually settled but the premiership contenders want to finish first or second and earn insurance if rain is a factor in the finals.
Last season Keira claimed their first premiership in a quarter of a century with a tense draw against University after the first day of the final was washed out.
In Saturday's round 12, Helensburgh take on Wollongong at North Dalton Park, with Wollongong well out of final contention but wanting a win to ensure they hand Keira the wooden spoon.
Twenty20 champions Corrimal host University at Ziems Park in the match of the round.
The winner will be in the box seat to claim a top two spot and even apply pressure to Helensburgh for the minor premiership with the Burgh facing the in-form Balgownie in the final round.
Bally resume on Saturday having Port Kembla in trouble at 3-16 at King George Oval, in the only match to start last Saturday.
In the other games, Wests Illawarra host Northern Districts at Figtree Oval, while Keira will be desperate to beat Dapto at Keira Village to keep alive their hopes of avoiding the ignomy of going from premiers to wooden-spooners in 12 months.
Finally, on Sunday Keira skipper Jono Cook leads the Illawarra rep side against Newcastle at North Dalton Park in the annual Tennant-Ewin Shield. Play starts 10am.
Ladder: Helensburgh 70, University 68, Corrimal 68, Balgownie 61, Port Kembla 47, Dapto 42, Northern Districts 35, Wests 30, Wollongong 23, Keira 15.