The Margaret River Hawks demonstrated they have well and truly left their woes of last season behind them when they demolished St Marys to record their fourth A-grade win of the summer in the Busselton-Margaret River cricket competition on Saturday.
After restricting St Marys to 5-147 from their 50 overs at Barnard Park, the Hawks raced to a seven-wicket win when they responded with 3-149 in just 38 overs.
The result puts Margaret River on 44 points and into third place on the ladder for the Yates Shield, behind leaders Dunsborough (58 points) and YOBS (54 points).
St Marys, who won their first three games of the season, have now lost four straight and are on 34 points, while last year’s premiers Cowaramup are fifth on 24 points.
The importance of this partnership was immense. To those who watched it was a display of control, confidence and poise.
- A Grade Captain Paul Tognolini
The A-grade T20 ladder sees Dunsborough on top with 20 points from two games, followed by YOBS with 20 points from three games, then Cowaramup on 10 points, Hawks on 8 points and St Marys on -2 points.
A Grade
It was a very happy day for the A grade lads this week, the fourth win for the season including bonus points and a spot in the top three.
Bowling first against a much-bolstered Saints outfit, it took six overs before Matty Kent bowled Fordy. It was steady going and slow scoring due to tight bowling, although not as strangling as some of our previous games.
The depth of our bowling was tested with some of our usual geniuses not on song.
Kade Dittmar started scratchy with run up problems, but proved the value of persistence with the big wicket of the danger man Jono Lloyd.
Garsty bowled a beautiful line and length to restrict the home team after drinks. Matty Kent along with Chris McClean made sure the Saints didn’t pass 150 with the bat. And so our batsmen prepared. The move to make keeper Joyce a number three proved a winner.
Garsty smashed 16 off about 3 balls but perished, while Polly looked good but fell to a cut shot.
Then came the match winning partnership – a fit and able Brad Kelly combined with a super fit and determined Joyce to put on 83 quality runs.
The importance of this partnership was immense. To those who watched it was a display of control, confidence and poise.
Both men realised boundaries were rare with the slow outfield, so picked up singles and twos. It was so good to watch and a brilliant example of how to win cricket matches in our competition. Very happy lads .
- A Grade Captain Paul Tognolini
C Grade
The pitch at Nippers Oval was nearly deemed unplayable after New Years revellers had melted a section with sparklers and aerosols (not cool, people).
But after lengthy discussion it was decided to play on as normal.
Any perceived demons in the pitch were soon forgotten as 417 runs were scored between the teams for the loss of only 8 wickets.
YOBS won the toss and batted first reaching 3/206 from 37 overs before losing 3/2 in a frantic last 3 overs, Mitch Broun (1/38 off 7) and visitor Chris Berry (2/25 off 6) closing out the innings for us.
Matt Jarvis and spin twins Danny Weston and Tristan Mugford bowled well taking one wicket apiece.
What followed was a near clinical run chase.
Jarvis and Garrath Stewart saw off some very tight bowling early to put on 81 for the first wicket in 15 overs before young Alex Warner came on and removed Jarvis (39) and Benn Dillon (4) in his first over.
That brought Michael Sorensen to the crease and the old heads got together and got the job done with an over and a half to spare.
Stewie’s 86* earning him another man of the match award, while Soro was unlucky not to pick up a half century finishing on 48.
Next week we have a bye while the T20 semi finals are played.
We were knocked out of that comp-within-a-comp last week, despite an incredible 87 * by Benn Dillon from only 61 balls.
A scratch match is being arranged between us and Nannup which will hopefully feature many of our promising juniors.
- C Grade Captain Al Wilkie
Margaret River Super Six is here
Now, some of you love Test cricket.
Some prefer One Day cricket.
We all know how good Twenty20 is to watch and play.
What is next?
The Margaret River Super 6’s is here and well worth getting a team nominated!
Eight player squads; six players per team and five overs per innings!
Games are finished in half an hour, with a minimum of 3 games per team with finals and then the grand final, all centralised at Gloucester Park in Margaret River.
Sunday March 4 will see the inaugural tournament being run and won and with five teams already signed up, there are a maximum of five more spots available.
The Reece Plumbing Renegades are the first corporate team to sign up; while the Finbats have registered and are a bunch of mates playing in the Margaret River Chicken Treat Big Bash T20 competition.
A betting syndicate called The Thoroughbreds will have a punt on themselves to go well as will Kurt’s Krusaders.
This will be a fantastic day of cricket in a carnival atmosphere.
With a licensed bar, food and some bang crash cricket; the crowd will enjoy the games as much as the players.
Please email corporatesw@outlook.com or call Michael on 0420 576 029 to register your team or to find out more information.
