A FOUR-WICKET haul to Mark Denmeade set up a nail-biting, two-run win for Lennox Head over Southern Districts in their Far North Coast LJ Hooker League cricket clash at Nesbitt Park, South Lismore.

Chasing 171, Southern Districts' Len Blok and Jake Nind almost stole the points when they combined for a 30-run, 10th wicket partnership, before Paul Milgate bowled Blok on 72 and ended Souths' charge at 169.

Denmeade did the damage early, removing Richard Nind for 20 then Michael Nind for a duck.

He later picked up Anthony Nind for 20 and dismissed Aaron Mocatta for a duck to have Souths in trouble at 4-58.

When Lennox Head captain Jordan Waugh ripped through Souths' tail, capturing four wickets, the result looked a foregone conclusion with the hosts reeling at 9-139.

But the veteran Blok, relishing his move up the order, steadied the ship.

Waugh praised the fast bowler's effort with the bat for giving him plenty of nervous moments.

“We got Richard (Nind) out early and got on a roll but we knew Souths were going to fight,” Waugh said.

“We had them at 7-105 so they still required nearly 70.

“Len batted really well. The other boys stayed up the other end and they got pretty close.

“We always knew they had some good batters in their tail who assess situations very well.

“Lenny was very patient. He just played each ball on its merits and nearly stole them the win. With Souths you always know that's going to happen.”

And while it went down to the wire, Waugh said it was set up early by Denmeade and fellow quick Harry Pye.

“Mark did the damage early - he got the wickets of the Nind boys,” Waugh said.

“Harry Pye's first spell was really good and set up a few of the wickets with a lot of play and misses.”

In other games:

• Casino Cavaliers scored an unlikely outright victory after Lismore Workers self-destructed at Nielson Park, East Lismore.

After a delayed start, Casino resumed at 2-49 at 2.30pm and declared at 4-108. Casino's Wade Sweeney ripped through Workers' top order with 5-22.

With Jason Caught absent, the hosts' second innings ended on 48, leaving the Cavaliers four overs to get 31 runs.

They secured the 12 points with two balls remaining.

• Ballina Bears completed an outright win over Marist Brothers at Oakes Oval, Lismore.

Resuming at 3-135 in reply to Brothers' 128, Bears reached 207.

Nathan Anson destroyed Brothers' second innings, taking 5-14, while Sam Adams claimed 4-12.

Brothers' second-innings of 43 was not enough to make Bears bat again.

• Alstonville took first-innings points with four-wicket win over Terranora Lakes at the Bilambil Turf.

Their bowlers split the wickets evenly in dismissing Terranora for 115 after they had resumed at 1-9 in the rain-affected first innings.

In reply, Alstonville reached 6-118. Captain Nathan Collins top scored with 48, Tuk Rolfe posted 22 and Kristiaan Ezzy 27.

• South Tweed Colts scored an eight-wicket win over Pottsville at Dave Burns Field, South Tweed.

Colts easy surpassed Pottsville's 95, losing just two wickets on their way 104 before declaring. Pottsville reached 7-107 in the second dig.

• Byron-Brunswick hung on to avoid an outright loss to Cudgen, at Reg Dalton Oval, Cudgen.

Chasing Cudgen's 7-271 (dec) the composite team were all out for 151 in the first innings.

Forced to follow on, Byron reached 8-135 in their second dig after being 7-54.

• Murwillumbah defeated Tintenbar-East Ballina (see below).