SAINT Stanislaus' College's bid for another Berg Shield title remains alive following a quarter-final win in the statewide under 16s competition over hosts Edmund Rice College.
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Stannies, who claimed the Berg Shield two season ago, were led to victory over the Wollongong school on Monday by Cooper Brien's unbeaten knock of 99.
Assisted by Blake Kruezberger (37), Brien helped take Stannies to a total of 2-157 in the Twenty20 clash.
Stannies never let Edmund Rice College build up momentum, picking up consistent wickets until the team were dismissed for 107 in their final over.
Ethan Muller was the pick of the Stannies bowlers, beginning his spell with two wicket maidens and finishing his four overs with 3-10.
Jamie Bennett was the other leading wicket taker with 3-25.
Stannies coach Anthony Fisher said his team relished the chance to bat first on St Patrick's College's Breen Oval after losing the toss, and proceeded to make no significant mistakes with the willow.
"Their opening bowlers were pretty solid. The Breen Oval is a bit of a postage stamp square of the wicket so it's tempting for the boys to hit across the line but we started well with about four an over," he said.
"Cooper's first six came in the fourth over and I think that was the one that broke the window.
"Him and Ethan Muller put on a nice partnership of 42 … then Cooper and Blake put on a partnership of 90."
Muller (5) and Liam Cooke (6) were the only wickets to fall, both stumped.
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Stannies didn't let their opponents with a tough required run rate of 7.85 and that number continued to climb with every over thanks to their tight bowling.
"I said to the boys 'you don't know what these guys are like, but they've got to this point so they've probably got a few good sticks'," Fisher said.
"We just put some nice pressure on them early with our opening bowlers Jamie Bennett and Harry Noonan.
"Jamie got a couple of early wickets and we had them at 2-33 after five overs. The boys kept finding dots. Then Ethan came in and had figures of 2-0 from two overs, and by the time they got to the 10th over they were on 4-39.
"We didn't relax because if they get 20 off an over then the run rate comes down again … but we were consistently getting wickets."
Sean Donato (2-11) and Tom Lynch (1-5) picked up the remaining wickets.
Revesby Heights school De La Salle College will be Stannies' semi-final opponent.
That game will take place at Campbelltown's Raby Oval this Tuesday with the final and bronze medal game to follow later in the day.