Eastlake have sent a sharp warning to their Cricket ACT rivals after demolishing North Canberra-Gungahlin in an outright win at Kingston Oval.
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The Demons knocked over their opponents for just 99 in last weekend's first innings and followed up by blasting 265 off just 45 overs thanks to an unbeaten 132 from Jack Sanson, before declaring late in the day.
Norths, after making it to stumps without losing a wicket, only achieved a 14-run lead on day two before being dismissed, with Eastlake requiring just three-and-a-half overs to take the outright win.
The convincing victory gives the Demons a shot of qualifying for the Douglas Cup finals, although they will have to overcome Dan Leerdam's ANU in the final round of the regular season.
"It was a really good win. After Christmas we have done a lot better with the team performing to where we need to perform to compete with the top sides," Eastlake's captain-coach Adam Tett said. "We had to do a bit of catch-up after the first few rounds. We have performed really well; the boys are playing top cricket at the right time of year.
"Big week next week for us, we still have to win that to go through but it was pleasing today."
Tett said Sanson's run-a-ball ton was pivotal in the win.
"He [Sanson] batted really well. He helped set it up, he is a young kid doing really well, doing the right things and has got some good people around him to help in his journey at the moment," Tett said.
"We were always going to be aggressive to try and get the outright."
Tett also praised his bowlers for the hard yards they put in on day two to ensure the outright win.
Opening pair Nick Wood and Hayden Page took a combined 11 scalps for the match.
"Their [Wood and Page's] partnership is really important to us," Tett said
"[Our bowling performance on] day one was really pleasing, it set up the game nicely.
"I think today was always going to be a bit of battle, it is always hard to outright teams.
"But the boys dug in really well today and performed nicely to knock them over and then [followed that up with] an easy little chase."
Meanwhile, Ginninderra also kept its finals ambitions alive with an eight-wicket win over Western District at Kippax.
The Tigers were set a huge target of 307 for victory by the Lions last weekend.
But opener Jordie Misic and skipper Rhys Healy both posted unbeaten centuries in a mammoth 233-run second-wicket partnership in the win.
ANU defeated Queanbeyan by 53 runs at Freebody Oval, Hano Jacobs starring with ball with figures of 5-78 for the students.
And Weston Creek Molonglo claimed a first innings win over Tuggeranong, skipper Robbie Trickett top scoring for Creek with 85.
