The stop-start South Coast cricket season is resuming after three extra weekends of no play.

After the fortnight break for the Christmas-New Year period, the first week back was called off due to extreme heat, then rain intervened before there was a scheduled break last weekend for the Australia Day weekend.

The forecast is fine for the South Coast this weekend for what should be a crucial round in determining the first-grade finals equation.

After 12 rounds of the one-dayers, the race for the top four looks to be a battle between six teams with two distinct groups on the ladder.

Premiers Lake Illawarra are on top with Shellharbour nine points further back. Bomaderry are tied with Bay and Basin in third with Kiama and North Nowra within striking distance.

Oak Flats, Kookas and Albion Park would need a dramatic form reversal to sneak into the top four while last-placed Ex Servos are nine points adrift of the Eagles in their bid to avoid the wooden spoon.

This Saturday’s marquee match features Shellharbour hosting North Nowra Cambewarra in a result which could have a major bearing on the final standings.

Bomaderry are at home to Oak Flats, Kiama travel to Hayden Drexel Oval to face Ex Servos, Lake Illawarra are away to Albion Park and the Kookas fly south to Sanctuary Point Oval to face Bay and Basin.

Ladder: Lake 67, Shellharbour 58, Bomaderry, Bay and Basin 57, Kiama 53, North Nowra 52, Oak Flats, Kookas 32, Albion Park 30, Ex Servos 21.

The T20 final will be held this Sunday at Geoff Shaw Oval with surprise packets Oak Flats taking on Lake after the Rats topped the standings.

In the only two matches that have been played this calendar year, Lake qualified for the decider after thumping Shellharbour by 81 runs after a superb captain’s knock of 98 from Kerrod White and 76 from allrounder Jake O’Connell.

The Rats also managed to avoid the rain on the Friday night to record a 47-run triumph over Kiama with Dean Condello’s 40 powering them to a total of 5-147.

Despite a run-a-ball 42 from Blake Mackrell, the Cavaliers were unable to recover from a top-order collapse of 3-16.

Lake take on Gerringong in the second grade T20 final at Oak Flats at 10am before the main game at 2pm.

The South Coast women’s competition is back after a five-week absence on Friday night.

First-placed Kookas take on the Ratettes in a top-of-the-table tussle at Myimbarr West while the other Oak Flats team, the Ratatouilles tackle Albion Park at Albion Oval.

Kiama lock horns with Ex Servos at Bonaira Oval with Shellharbour up against Lake at Myimbarr East.

Ladder: Kookas 32, Ratettes, Ratatouille 22, Kiama 18, Lake, Park 16, Ex Servos 12, Shellharbour 2.