Blakemore and fellow opener Scott Leet (28) gave the Tigers a solid start before Leet became the first of two wickets in a row by Panthers bowler Corey-John LobIinzk.

Loblinzk bowled Leet and then trapped Danny Edwards lbw, but was denied his hat-trick by Steven Walters.

Walters made seven in a 48-run partnership with Blakemore who then combined with Matthew Trowbridge (39) to take the score to 164. 

The tail stuck around and the Tigers managed to post 211 before being dismissed in the final over. David Fayth (3-40) and Duncan Kirby (3-42) shared the best figures for the Panthers attack.

The Tigers struck immediately with the ball and had the Panthers 4-4 and then 5-35 as Walters (3-16) and Stuart Elliott (2-26) tore through the top order.

Leigh Peters (22) and Aidan Coulter (23) offered the stiffest resistance as they dismissed for 89 in 19.3 overs. Matthew and Jason Trowbridge also picked up two wickets each.

The win was the Tigers’ third in a row and moves them to fifth on the A-grade table, just two points behind SMR who were comfortably beaten by third placed Paterson on Saturday.

An unbeaten 65 by Chris Merchant and 43 to Rodney Faulkner enabled Paterson to post 5-226 before dismissing SMR for 103.  Rigby Vane-Wood (3-21 from eight overs) and Russell Presland (3-23 from 4.3 overs) were the chief wicket takers for Paterson.

Port Stephens 1^st XI and 2^nd XI maintained their top two spots with comfortable wins against Bowthorne and Seaham respectively.

The Pythons 1^st XI dismissed Bowthorne for 72 and chased down the target for the loss of two wickets.

Seaham opener Cameron McLean carried his bat to score 70 in his side’t total of 145 against Port’s 2^nd XI. The Pythons reached their target with the loss of four wickets.

In the final game Raworth Rabbitohs defeated Lochinvar.

Ladder