Park and Lake locked in battle

Albion Park and Lake Illawarra are locked in a battle for second spot, as Oak Flats look set to run away with the minor premiership in the final round of the South Coast Cricket Competition.

With Oak Flats looking set for an early outright victory against perennial strugglers Shellharbour, the pressure remains on both Albion Park and Lake Illawarra as they fight out a tense battle at Howard Fowles Oval.

Limiting the Park to only 159, Lake Illawarra looked to be in the driver’s seat throughout most of the day before Jess Hancock and Troy Burns combined for a lethal late evening spell to leave the Lakers reeling at 3-32.

Earlier in the day Ryan Smith (3-29) and Craig Acton (3-26) were the pick of the bowlers for Lake while Brett Baldwin (29) and Clint Mackenzie (36*) combined to add some respectability to Albion Park’s score after a lack lustre effort from the top order.

Shellharbour were absolutely no match for title favourites Oak Flats in day one of their clash with harbour batsmen Nic Formosa (22) the only player to show any fight in the first innings, with Shellharbour all out for 89.

Ty Cherry and Steve Nikitaras were the prime wicket takers for the rats with each of the quicks bagging three against the hapless Shellharbour batting attack.

Oak Flats made little work in chasing down Shellharbour’s first inning score with Ryan Chatterton making a quick fire unbeaten 69 as the home side declared at 1-95.

Shellharbour are currently 3-74 in the second innings with Colin Couchman 26 not out.

The other semi final bound team Warilla found more resistance than many expected from Kiama, as the Cavaliers combined to put on 201 batting first with Kiama captain Dale Scifleet leading from the front with a resilient 64.

Kiama looked to be cruising at 3-160 before Warilla spinner Adam Zampa collected 4-73 as Kiama collapsed to add only 41 runs for the last seven wickets.

Warilla took advantage of good batting conditions to fly to 2-150 in reply with in form Nic Maddinson unbeaten on 70.

In the other match Jamberoo look set to collect the wooden spoon after the Rail declared at 8-295 in their Croome Road clash.

Bronson Mauro (62) and Andrew Warren were the pick of the batsmen for the Rail while Andy Twyford tried all day for Jamberoo collecting 2-45. Jamberoo are currently in trouble at 2-14.