North Albury defeats Corowa by four wickets in CAW provincial semi-final

The visitors compiled an impressive 9-174 and had North in trouble at 6-112, but an unbeaten 63-run stand between Anthony Hartshorn and captain Ryan Addison guided the team home with 20 balls left.

"We've very luck with the depth that we have," Hartshorn said.

"If we lose a couple of quick wickets, we don't get too rattled."

Corowa captain Jarred Lane produced a mature innings, striking 61 from 128 deliveries with three boundaries.

Scoring runs has been the former district outfit's biggest issue this season, but in making 213 against Albury in the qualifying final on Saturday, albeit in a loss, and then backing it up with another strong effort against the premiership favourites indicates the club is learning and adapting quickly.

Matt Grantham, who only started opening a month ago after spending the rest of the year floating between number three and five, chipped in with 34.

John Purtell took his second three-wicket haul (3-29 from 10 overs) of the weekend.

After batting at No. 6 in his first game back from a three-week hamstring injury the previous day, North's Ash Borella returned to the top of the order with Matt Condon.

In Jarryd Hatton's first over, Borella produced a glorious square cut for four and followed it with a glide through the gully, while Condon smashed a lofted square drive from Nick Grant in the following over.

Hatton fought back in his next over against Condon, beating the former ACT captain in successive deliveries to start the over.

On the fourth ball, the players were uncertain if the ball hit Condon's bat or thigh pad, but it fell just short of Daniel Athanitis at first slip.

Corowa didn't have to wait long though with Borella caught behind for 12 off just 10 balls in the fifth over.

The visitors bowled a tight line to Tim Hartshorn and when he was also caught behind for three, from Kaelan Bradtke, the Hoppers were 2-31.

Condon (54) and a patient Cal Langlands regained the ascendancy with a 67-run stand, but the home team lost 4-14 to swing the momentum back to Corowa.

However, Anthony Hartshorn and Addison defied the attack.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The Hoppers are home to Albury in a re-match of last year's preliminary final, while St Patrick's host Lavington on Saturday.

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