The Tathra Sea Eagles will cruise through to the Far South Coast Cricket Association final on Saturday.
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The minor premiers had a seemingly easy win over Eden’s first division contingent despite the visitors posting a defensible total of 173 on Saturday.
With the semi-final clash hosted at Tathra’s Lawrence Park, the Eden outfit finished all-out for 173 in the final over of the match to put the hosts under pressure.
However Tathra dropped just a single wicket on the way to the result with Chris Dwyer a standout for the competition leaders, leading the batting with an 89-run-haul.
Eden opener Drew Mudaliar provided a backbone for Eden’s efforts, climbing to 84 runs before he was run out.
He had knocked a handful of sixes and some cheeky fours early on to get Eden on track for a big total.
Patrick Kearney provided a good running partner, but couldn’t get the best of the Tathra bowling attack, returning to the sheds on one run by a catch off a Daniel Ryan ball.
Mark Spink batted at three and provided 16 for the Eden roster, but was bowled by Rhys Cunningham.
Cunningham struck again, dismissing Martin Butchers for four, before Rob Stevens was returned to the sheds for a duck by an Adam Check catch.
Andrew Evelyn and Tim Bowes provided a little late resistance, scoring 11 and 23 before being caught by Check and Dwyer respectively.
The quick dismissals of Toby Timms and Matt Creswick sealed the end of the innings for Eden, who had scored 173 largely on the back of Mudaliar’s efforts.
Cunningham was the best of Tathra’s bowlers, securing four wickets for just 30 runs.
The reply from Tathra was steady, but well controlled as the club gave up just a single wicket in the run chase and hitting the target in 28 overs.
Pete Bennett had a solid open, hitting 21 runs before he was caught by Mudaliar of a Bowes ball.
Dwyer had no trouble against the Eden bowlers, building to 89 not-out, while number three Ben O’Reilly was also showing great form with the bat, hitting 57 not-out.
The result sees the Sea Eagles advancing to the competition final, where they will now face the South Eurobodalla Pirates after a shock result in the second semi-final.
The Pirates faced the Merimbula Knights at Berrambool on Saturday and stunned their hosts with an impressive innings, hitting 188, which the Knights struggled to run down.
Opener Dean Friskin led the charge with 64, while Mackie was well on his way to a half century before being bowled by Ray Fisher.
The Knights dropped steady wickets in their innings to fall short, all-out for 150.
The Association first division final will be held at Lawrence Park from 1pm Saturday.