Batting first in their opening match of the weekend carnival, Shoalhaven made a promising start through an 85-run partnership.

Lachlan (39) and Duncan Maddinson (38), brothers of New South Wales cricket star Nic Maddinson, got Shoalhaven off to the perfect start in the rain affected match.

The game was reduced to 38 overs per side after morning showers threatened to cancel the first day’s play.

Held in Cooma for the first time, a place in the Burns Cup final awaited the winner, as Shoalhaven looked set to post a competitive total.

Wickets to South Coast spinner Sigh (4/16) triggered the collapse which saw the side dismissed for 120.

On a difficult to bat on pitch, the Shoalhaven bowling attack would’ve fancied their chances of routing South Coast and making their way into the final.

Oak Flats teenager, Blake Nikitaris, guided South Coast to a five-wicket with a well compiled 46 not out.

The run chase came down to the final few overs as Shoalhaven came within striking distance of an unlikely win.

“The pitch wasn’t the best and we had to endure a delayed start because of indifferent weather,” Shoalhaven captain Allen Sullivan said.

“There were a a couple of wet spots on the pitch and that made it difficult to bat on early. In particular, the area near off-stump for the right-handers caused a fair bit of grief.

“We had a great start thanks to the Maddinson boys, which helped get into the 80s before we lost a wicket.

“But once we lost that wicket, we seemed to crumble and lost all 10 wickets for about 40 runs.

“By the time we had a bowl, the pitch had dried out a bit, which helped South Coast. The biggest difference I feel though was that they had a lot of left-handed batsmen, which meant the wet patch that hurt us, didn’t effect them as much.”

Shoalhaven was unable to repeat last year’s performance in the Burns Cup, where they lost in the final over to South East.

Boasting arguably the carnival’s most potent batting attack, Shoalhaven will enter the next Burns Cup as third seed after knocking off Goulburn in third-fourth play off. Shoalhaven won the match comfortably after posting 212 batting first.

Coming off a heavy defeat at the hands of Shoalhaven last weekend and being completely outplayed by South East in the first match of the Burns Cup, Goulburn folded for just 51 in their reply.

“On the Sunday, the boys tried to put Saturday’s result behind us and it helped that we had already beaten Goulburn recently,” Sullivan said.

“Our total of 212 was not bad, considering the pitch. Both Maddinson’s again batted well, as did young Zac Blattner and Justin Weller, who ended with 45 not out.

“When we got the ball, Weller and young Hayden Strand opened the bowling and got us on the front foot early.

“Weller in particular had a tail breeze and seemed to move the ball a fair bit – ending with 6/18, which are just great figures.

“He’s consistently on of the region’s best bowlers and that performance is a good statement for a potential zone selection.”