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Keira beat Wests Illawarra outright as Lions new-ball bowler Nick Bell and Wollongong teenager Kain Flynn-Duncombe took hat-tricks on a remarkable second day of round nine in Illawarra cricket.
With second-placed Dapto beaten by leaders Balgownie and third-placed University thrashed by Helensburgh, Keira leapt from fourth to second with an outright win over Wests.
Wests resumed 4-41 chasing 176 and were bowled out for 90. The Lions then made 2-107 (declared ) off 17 overs in their second dig which left Wests to bat from tea to stumps to save the game.
But Bell soon struck taking the wickets of Wests skipper Dan Bogovac (6), Luke Boncompagni (0) then had Andrew Tougher (0) caught by Bell's flatmate Jono Cook at second slip.
Bell almost had four wickets in four balls with Grant Newman then dropped in the slips. Wests were rolled for just 82, handing Keira the 12 outright points.
"With a good draw ahead of us and now up to second it's a big result for us," Keira skipper Graeme Batty said.
Meanwhile, Flynn-Duncombe claimed a hat-trick as Wollongong survived a lower-order fightback from Northern Districts at Hollymount Park.
Sixteen-year-old Flynn-Duncombe, who is only allowed to bowl in short spell due to his age, took 3-30 off 10 overs.
The medium-pacer had Andrew Clarke (7) LBW, then next over bowled Brett Murphy (1) and had Craig Clunas (0) LBW.
Set 255 for victory, Norths fought back from 6-81, led by Mark Johnson's 93 and Jacob Hand (53) at No 8.
Norths slipped to 9-165 but Hand and No 11 Robert Murphy (16 not out) put on 60 for the final wicket to ensure a nervous finish.
"It was very tense at the end there trying to get that last wicket," Wollongong veteran Jason Welsh said.
"They kept finding a partnership and it was relief to get that last wicket. Kain is restricted to how many overs he can bowl and he bowled well for us."
Andrew Hicks took 4-46 for Wollongong, who keep their slim finals hopes alive with four rounds remaining.
In other round games, Helensburgh coach Tim Lloyd took 8-22 off just 13.5 overs as the Burgh thrashed University at Uni Oval.
Chasing 209, Uni was rolled for 77 and were 8-141 in their second dig - Amit Balgi (53) saved the Students from outright defeat.
Meanwhile, Corrimal took first innings points against Port Kembla as both teams chased an outright result.
Resuming at 4-51 chasing 114 for victory, Corrimal declared at 6-114, with skipper Rob Fisher unbeaten on 42.
Port was bowled out for 124; opener Gavin McCauley (24) top-scored and Xavier McDevitt took 5-59.
Corrimal collapsed to 6-44 off 20 overs, with Andy Koutsoufis taking 4-11.
Balgownie claimed a two-game lead at the top after a comprehensive win over Dapto at Judy Masters Oval.