At just 14, Keira’s Matt Garnero impressed in his first grade debut, but it was University who took the foothold into the Illawarra Twenty20 finals.
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Garnero, a sensation in the junior representative ranks, came to the crease at 5-30 on Saturday, before finishing with 21, including a six, as Keira scrambled to 77.
Vijay Karthik did the damage for Uni, taking 3-12 off four, before James Chappell (33 not out) and Ben Page (28), set them on course for an eight-wicket win to snatch second place in Pool B from Keira. Elsewhere, Helensburgh are the only unbeaten Twenty20, after Tom Sinclair (3-18) and Neil Ryan (3-20) ensured Dapto were restricted to 98 at Reed Park.
Shay Brady top scored with 35 in reply, as the Tigers won by five wickets.
Port Kembla kept their finals hopes alive with a six-wicket win over Wests, with wicket-keeper Jaye Ritchie hitting 32 off 26 balls.
Wollongong stayed in the finals hunt with a 93-run romp over Northern Districts, as Sufian Aziz took 4-21.