The Northern Territory under-19s left it late at the National Male Cricket Championships in Albury when they beat Tasmania by seven runs in a last day thriller.
Constant rain delays affecting player nerves, a Tasmanian run chase that included a middle order collapse and a late surge and some brilliant bowling and fielding by the Territory side brought its own highlights.
A twilight finish because of the rain interruptions added more drama before leg spinner Jayden Chatto had Tasmanian Joe Groom caught in the covers to secure eighth place at the championships.
It all looked different when the Territory Strike had to work hard to get to 180 all out after winning the toss and batting on a slow wicket.
Five batters got starts and made their way into the 20s and 30s before being dismissed, including openers Aiman Nadeem and Clancy McCormick, Charlie Bignell at No.4, wicketkeeper-batter Dhani Vemullapalli and Arjun Sehrawat.
A 26-run 10th wicket stand between Southern Districts allrounder Josh Gawthrope (8no) and NSW import Everett Oxenham proved decisive in the final outcome after the pair came together at 9-154.
Strike coach Udara Weerasinghe was always confident those runs would be enough against the Apple Islanders batting lineup on a slow wicket taking spin and bounce.
"We've bowled well in various combinations throughout the tournament and it worked again today with Chatts (Jayden Chatto) following up his good bowling against the ACT with another fine effort this time,'' Weerasinghe said.
"Plus the fielders backed up the bowlers, Arjun Sehrawat's four catches in the covers and the slips were very good and Charlie Bignell's run out when he threw down the stumps from behind point was game changing.''
Weerasinghe is confident Terrritory cricket at a national level can continue to grow and expand with several promising young cricketers on the way up.
"We played as a team and executed really well against some good opposition sides,'' he said.
"I'm pleased the boys won the two games against the ACT and Tasmania back-to-back and the players coming back next year should be able to carry that on at a national level.
"Tom Menzies, Nicholas Fleming, Charlie Bignell and Charlie Kemp can play again in 2024 and there will be others.''
Northern Territory 180 (A Sehrawat 35, C McCormick 24, C Bignell 22, A O'Connor 3-47, J Wilmott 2-26, J McGann 2-28, J Scott 2-37) d Tasmania 173 (A O'Connor 54, J Wilmott 22, J McGann 20, J Chatto 2-12, A Sehrawat 2-19, E Oxenham 2-34, T Menzies 2-45) by seven runs.