ANU fell agonisingly short of a first-innings upset of Queanbeyan in its Douglas Cup semi-final, with a leg before wicket appeal turned down which would have secured the side first-innings points. Instead a rare tie was the eventual outcome on the second day of play.
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It was just the eighth first-innings tie in the history of the competition, and left the students requiring an outright win on the third and final day to advance to the grand final.
Queanbeyan captain Blake Dean had helped restrict his team's target to 228, taking 6-69 in 34 overs, but in a dramatic finish to the innings, Queanbeyan was 9-226 in reply when ANU spinner Scott Murn thought he had trapped No.11 Josh Bennett lbw. Despite his team's confidence, the appeal was turned down.
Bennett went on to score the two runs needed to tie the innings before their last wicket fell.
At stumps, ANU was 3-57 in its second innings, with only three sessions of play left to try for an outright win.
"When you put yourself in a position to win and you come out with a tie, it's always pretty gutting," ANU captain Mark Bennett said.
"Obviously we all thought [the lbw appeal] was out but the umpire didn't think that, so that's what we've got to go with; that's the game, these things happen I guess."
In the other semi-final between Wests/UC and Eastlake, a ripping spell of bowling from Ben Oakley (5-41) and Dale Riley (3-53) all but sealed their side's position in the final.
Chasing a target of 444 runs, Eastlake had no answer to the pair, who took three wickets each in the first six overs as Eastlake slumped to 6-11.
With a result looking imminent, Ryan Bartley and Michael Shaw stuck in to put on a century partnership, with Shaw bringing up his century in the last over of the day with a pair of fours.
Incredibly, it was Shaw's first century for Eastlake after more than a decade with the club, and in what could be his final game as he contemplates retirement.
Shaw will resume his place at the crease to build on his 100 not out on Sunday morning alongside Danushka Wijesundara (29 not out), with Eastlake at 8-203 and looking for another 242 runs or a draw if it is to advance to the grand final.
