ST MARYS legspinner Josh Perks caused a sensation in local cricket circles last Saturday when he took four wickets in four balls against YOBS at Barnard Park.
Since the Busselton and Margaret River Cricket Associations joined in 1975, only one other bowler – Neville Mincherton for Abba River-Newtown in 1984-85 – is known to have taken four wickets in four balls in senior ranks.
The only other instance known in local cricket history was achieved by Mike Adams for the Oddbods club in the old Busselton Cricket Association in 1968-69.
Playing on the turf at Barnard Park in a B-grade game on Saturday, the 17-year-old Perks had a catch taken at square leg by Jake Hand to finish an over, then catches at long-on by Dylan Tomlinson and mid-off by club president Ben Mattock off the first two balls of the next over to complete the hat-trick. Incoming YOBS batsman Ky Spowart then obliged by chopping the next ball on to his stumps.
The game was a memorable one for all involved, as YOBS held on to beat St Marys by only seven runs.
YOBS looked set to score a comfortable win until late in the piece, when a seriously ill Todd Hartnett (52 not out) nearly stole it for Saints after retiring earlier due to dry-wretching in the heat.
Jake Wain (53) and stand-in skipper Haig Colombera (40) capitalised on dropped catches to top score in YOBS’ innings of 174 all out, after Colombera won the toss and took first use of a pitch which kept low for most of the day.
The other B-grade game, played at Margaret River, was also a close affair with Dunsborough getting up to beat Hawks by four wickets with four overs to spare. Hawks batted first and made 9-169 from their 45 overs, with Colin Baker (43 not out) top scoring and getting assistance from Alastair Wilkie and Danny Weston (each 32 runs). Left-armer Richard Norrish with 4-19 from nine overs was outstanding with the ball for Dunsborough.
In reply, Dunsborough put in a strong team performance with seven of their eight batsmen reaching double figures, Cam Morris (33) the best of them. Alex Coultas and skipper Ian Purcell guided the side home to victory in the 41st over.
Cracking start to Country Week
A MARATHON innings of 153 at Country Week by Harvey Golding on Sunday has helped to give Busselton-Margaret River’s No. 1 cricket side a great start in Perth this week.
Batting at Iluka Reserve in Perth in 42-degree heat, Golding put the Bunbury attack to the sword in the B-Section game, hitting 153 off 161 balls with 15 fours and 7 sixes.
Ben Lloyd (46) and Danny Hatton (50 off 24 balls) played great support roles as Busselton-Margaret River amassed a huge 5-324 off 60 overs.
This was in reply to Bunbury’s total of 119 all out, in which legspinner Joe Lowe took fine figures of 4-25, with Mat Kent, Matt Connaughton and Danny Hatton taking two wickets each.
In Monday’s second game in B-Section, Busselton-Margaret River had another comfortable win. After dismissing Eastern Goldfields for 140, with spinners Ben Payne and Joe Lowe grabbing three wickets each, Busselton-Margaret River compiled 236 all out, with Ben Lloyd (48) and James Courtney-Bennett (43) playing the lead roles.
Busselton-Margaret River’s No. 2 side, competing in C-Section, is also performing great guns this week.
In Sunday’s opener against Fortescue, Busselton-Margaret River were dismissed for 155 with James Courtney-Bennett starting his good form with 59.
Then Augusta allrounder Braden Warnke took amazing figures of 6-7 off eight overs for Busselton-Margaret River as Fortescue were routed for 67.
On Monday Busselton-Margaret River’s No. 2 side then defeated Peel.
Contributions by Mick Walker (42), Chris Dudley (44) and Braden Warnke (33) helped Busselton-Margaret River total 162 all out. They defended it by dismissing Peel for 139, Braden Warnke taking four wickets and Matty Braid and Jaxon Bennison two each.
Yesterday was a rest day at Country Week. Today will see Busselton-Margaret River No. 1 take on Great Southern, while Busselton-Margaret River No. 2 will be up against Eastern Districts.
Cowaramup bowl heroically
COWARAMUP performed one of the most economical bowling achievements of the cricket season when they restricted St Marys to 8-86 off 40 overs to win their game at Barnard Park on Saturday.
Playing on the synthetic wicket, Cowaramup were dismissed for only 99 (Bill Cawley’s 18 being the highest score) but then put in a heroic effort with the ball, with Dillen Watson’s 2-9 off eight overs and Darcy Whitelaw’s 3-8 off four overs being among the highlights. Graeme Sly top-scored for Saints with 32.
Nannup caused an upset by beating YOBS at Nannup, while Augusta overcame Dunsborough at Dunsborough and Vasse defeated Hawks at the Nippers Oval in Margaret River.
Results: Cowaramup 99 (35 overs) (B. Cawley 18, W. Healy 3-15, A. La Mancusa 3-17, S. Lilley 2-26) b St Marys 8-86 (40 overs) (G. Sly 32, D. Whitelaw 3-8, D. Watson 2-9, M. Barrett-Lennard 2-14) at Barnard Synthetic.
Numbats master the competition
NUMBATS put in one of their best ever bowling performances to defeat Gerihatricks in a great game of Masters cricket at Barnard Park on Sunday.
Player numbers in the Masters competition for over-37 cricketers have been on the rise this season, with the four sides – Numbats, Gerihatricks, Dunsborough and Cowaramup – all managing to field full teams.
Craig Johnson’s reverse sweep was one of the highlights of Sunday’s win by Numbats, which saw everyone given their turn at the bowling crease.
The previous week saw Dunsborough score 2-192, outlasting Cowaramup’s total of 8-166.
“We are getting great feedback and awareness of Masters cricket this season – the competition is definitely on the rise,” said Masters cricket president Glenn Paterson.
Cricketers who are interested in joining the Masters league can contact Glenn on 0427 097 039.