Merewether have kept alive their chances of qualifying for back-to-back Tom Locker Cup finals after winning a last-ball thriller against Toronto at Townson Oval on Saturday.
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The Lions broke the deadlock by scrambling a single to claim victory in the one-day fixture and move alongside both the Kookaburras and Belmont in equal second on the pool B standings with one round remaining.
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The home side reached 9-190 off their 40 overs with wicketkeeper Chad Mayo (30 not out) and No.11 Sam Holding (11 not out) featuring in a 22-run stand for the last wicket.
Seven of those runs came in the last over, including a close run out call on the sixth and final delivery.
Merewether had earlier been 7-126 and needed to score at near 10-an-over in the closing stages.
Lions all-rounder Zac McGuigan top scored with 47 while leg-spinner Courtney Moulton chipped in with 15 after clinching first grade-best figures of 5-38.
Stand outs for Toronto, who made 9-189 from their allotted time in the middle, were Griffin Lea (3-36) with the ball and Josh Westwood (51) with the bat.
After consecutive wash outs, Merewether had to win that fourth-round game in order to stay in the hunt to make the Tom Locker Cup decider on October 28 following a narrow first-up loss to Belmont at the end of last month.
The Lions join Toronto, who knocked over Waratah-Mayfield in their season opener, as two of four teams in contention to reach the top-two showdown.
In other pool B results from Saturday, undefeated leaders Hamilton-Wickham (6-124) chased down Belmont (120) with four wickets in hand and 8.3 overs remaining at Cahill Oval while Cardiff-Boolaroo (5-193) opened their account when awarded the win against hosts Waratah (5-131) based on the Duckworth Lewis system after lightning stopped play with 10 overs left.
In pool A and title holders Wests (108) were beaten comfortably by hosts University (6-110), who are now in front overall alongside Charlestown. The Magpies (7-214) defeated Newcastle City (175) at No.1 Sportsground. Fourth-placed Wallsend (1-142) picked up a bonus point against Stockton and Northern Districts (7-138) at Lynn Oval.
POOL A: Uni, Charlestown 16; Wests 12; Wallsend 11; Stockton 6; City 5.
POOL B: Hamwicks 16; Toronto, Merewether, Belmont 11; Cardiff, Waratah 5.