A 53-RUN unbeaten stand for the 10th wicket by North Canberra-Gungahlin pair Louis Rutzou and Andrew Barnett snuffed out Ginninderra's hopes yesterday of securing its first win in two seasons.
After stumbling to 9-134, Norths recovered to post 9-187 before bowling the Tigers out for 123 on a rain-affected wicket at KT Memorial Oval.
The fightback condemned Ginninderra to its fifth loss of the season and left the Belconnen club rooted to the foot of the Cricket ACT one-day standings.
Captain Josh Kentwell was left lamenting his side's inability to clean up the Norths tail, but said the club was creeping closer to a morale-boosting win.
''We got a bit complacent thinking we've got them nine down, it's a tailender they'll just roll over and to their credit they managed to put on another 50-odd runs,'' Kentwell said.
''It's a tough time for Ginninderra cricket, there's no doubt about that ...
''We've given Tuggies a run for their money, we've given Queanbeyan a run and now we've given Northies a run.
''I'm hopeful that a win's not too far away, that it's just around the corner.''
Kentwell was again the pick of the bowlers for his side, taking 3-25 while Aditya Thumma was also dangerous, picking up 3-31.
Ginninderra looked to be cruising as it tore through Norths' middle order, with Kentwell claiming the prized scalp of ex-New Zealand international Chris Cairns who fell for two runs - his first failure this summer.
But the home side steadied through its lower order which did a handy job with the willow before carving its way through Ginninderra when it was its turn to bowl.
Djali Bloomfield claimed four scalps, and Sam Gaskin joined in with three of his own.
''It was a massive bonus getting Cairnsy cheap and I think it's a massive psychological blow, you get out their superstar and the rest have a bit of self-doubt in themselves,'' Kentwell said.
''But they put on a bit of a partnership for the last wicket that got them 180-odd.
''Anything over 150 gets a bit tough but anything under 150 is a big positive when you go out to bat.
''You think, 'If you get off to a good start you've got 10 other guys that can do the job.''
Elsewhere yesterday Western District-University of Canberra's poor start to the season took another blow, at the hands of Weston Creek.
In a rain-reduced fixture, Creek managed 7-169 from its 36 overs but Wests' run chase was interrupted by an untimely burst of heavy showers.
''We were four for maybe 90 or 100, needed 80 off 70-odd and the rain came again,'' captain Ben Oakley said.
''We were looking good and all of a sudden 80 off 70 became 70 off seven overs.''
Eastlake downed ANU by seven wickets while the Queanbeyan-Tuggeranong match was washed out.
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