SOUTH COAST CRICKET
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Most South Coast outfits will want to put their disappointing one-day form behind them in Saturday's opening day of the two-day competition in the Premier League.
Unbeaten Lake Illawarra and arch-rival Oak Flats cruised into next month's one-day final following the five rounds of 50-over matches.
The Lakers won four games and were left frustrated by a washout while on top against Shellharbour.
Oak Flats' only defeat in five rounds was to the Lakers in round one.
The first two-day round is the same draw as last Saturday's one-dayers, with Kiama and Shellharbour meeting at Tom Willoughby Oval in a clash with extra motivation for both clubs.
Kiama won a bizarre match by six runs last Saturday, defending just 104 after Shellharbour were 1-54 in the run chase.
Shellharbour lost 9-44 with Kiama's spin trio of Kieran Brooker, Ben King-Gee and skipper Matt O'Brien taking three wickets each.
"We could have easily lost, but hung in there and our pressure with the ball won it for us," O'Brien said.
"We need to bat a lot better for sure and we are capable of doing that, it's just a matter of eliminating some silly shots."
King-Gee was the difference in the one-dayer, top-scoring with 27 and taking 4-8.
Meanwhile, Lakers skipper Brendan White is the key wicket for Albion Park in their clash at Keith Grey Oval after smashing back-to-back centuries last weekend.
White hit 111 against the Park in the Lakers' big one-day win, then blasted 106 against Dapto in the SCG Country Cup.
Finally, Kookas and Oak Flats produced more than 550 runs combined in the one-dayer at Oakleigh Park last Saturday.
Oak Flats won comfortably, led by the half centuries of Kerry Penfold, Darren Mansfield and Nathan Brown.
Geoff Shaw Oval should be more bowler-friendly, with Kookas still looking to get their season started.
Ladder: Lake 63, Oak Flats 58, Kiama 39, Kookas 27, Shellharbour 27, Albion Park 22.
SOUTH COAST CRICKET
Round 6 (Two-dayers)
Albion Park v Lake Illawarra at Keith Grey Oval
Oak Flats v Kookas at Geoff Shaw Oval
Shellharbour v Kiama at Tom Willoughby Oval
