BOTTOM side Nestles is celebrating the emergence of several young players after it stunned top side Allansford on Saturday.

Nestles, which included six players aged 19 and under, claimed a five-run win over the Gators at Allansford in the Hopkins conference match.

The Factory’s skipper Brett Eldridge was stoked with his side’s performance, defending its 8-161 by restricting a gallant Allansford to 8-156.

Nestles opening batsman Peter Mitchell set up the winning total with a half-century before his bowlers reduced Allansford to 6-56. The Gators then fought back through Sam McCluggage (43), Sam Hickey (22 not out) and Rowan Ault (22).

In a tense finish, Eldridge threw the ball to under 17 bowler Max Hannah and Jacob Threlfall, in his first season out of the juniors, to close out the innings with Allansford needing 18 off the last two overs and 11 off the last.

Threlfall, who had earlier picked up his first division one wicket, was told to bowl yorkers.

“He bowled very well,” Eldridge enthused. “Very, very pleasing for a bunch of young guys who are trying their hardest, so proud.

“It’s the first bit of success and it’s just baby steps we are taking.

“They know how to play cricket. Learning how to win is a far greater thing.” Allansford coach Stephen Blacker was proud of his side’s ability to fight back, especially by players who had barely spent time in the middle with the bat yet.

“We almost got out of jail,” Blacker said. “We did well to get as close as we did.”

Fifth-placed Brierly-Christ Church did the Gators a big favour by upsetting second-placed Merrivale, all but guaranteeing Allansford a spot in the one-day cup semi-finals.

The Bulls, like Nestles, had youngsters to thank. Opener Bill Quinlivan (66) and teenager Michael Boyd (47 not out) were the mainstays of Brierly’s 9-184. In reply, spin-twins, captain Leigh Pollard (4-25) and Jason Greer (2-32) stopped Merrivale’s run chase at 136. “Best performance of the year, batting, bowling, fielding,” Pollard said. “These are the wins that show we are moving in the right direction with our young kids. If we can get on a roll, we believe we can beat anyone.”

In the other Hopkins conference match, third-placed Dennington defeated Nirranda after teenage opener Nick King made a career-high 89. Co-captain Dustin Drew said King was bound for a higher level.

“I’ve been playing cricket since I was nine and the two hardest cricketers I’ve seen train and prepare are Matt Gunther and Nick King,” Drew said.

“Matt is playing division one district cricket and Nick King is effectively on the way to playing district ones. He just puts the work in. He practises so much, he deserves all the scores he gets.

Drew said his side was focusing on its own performances and not worrying about the ladder heading into Saturday’s final round of one-day games, needing a win against Nestles to stitch up a semi-final berth.