Hawks collect double victory over the weekend

Having lost the toss, we were sent into the field first and the top order of the YOBS batting line up commenced well, but it was the accurate bowling of Jordan Stanbury, who struck first, removing the current leading run maker, Harvey Golding, for just 4 runs.

YOBS recovered to continue to build their innings to be 3/85 after 13 overs through effective running between wickets and looked to be setting the Hawks a large total to chase.

True to form the Hawks bowlers tightened up their line and length, and with the support of sensational fielding, proceeded to take 7/25 in 6 overs, having YOBS all out for 110.

Peter Crimp was the pick of the bowlers with 3/22 (4 overs) along with Rumesh Silva 2/7 (3.1 overs).

Our fielding was equally impressive, with excellent catches taken by both Gareth Edmonds and A-grade debutante Stuart Roberts.

Our batting innings commenced cautiously as Silva and Holmes set about chasing down the modest total, however it was YOBS that managed to get on top early with Holmes (2) run out, McLean (3) c&b and Garstone (0) all back in the shed.

A small partnership commenced between Silva and Shane Joyce before Silva (26) was caught attempting to hit over cover, leaving the Hawks 4/38 from the first 10 overs, needing a further 73 from the remaining 10 overs.

With Joyce and Gareth Edmonds at the crease, a valuable partnership (46 runs) formed through effective running and with the 14th over being hit for 24 runs, the Hawks only needed a further 36 runs from the remaining 6 overs.

Joyce (37) and Kade Dittmar (0) were soon dismissed, but it was Edmonds (28 n.o.) that controlled the remainder of the innings perfectly to ensure the Hawks were victorious once again over the YOBS side.

50 Over Match Vs Dunsborough at Western Oval

It is a huge delight to arrive at Western Oval for a home game and see it presented in such a professional manner.

There is no doubt, we have the very best home ground in the BMRCA. 

After winning the toss, the Hawks elected to bat first and this soon proved to be the advantage, with Chris McLean and Rumesh Silva scoring an opening partnership of 67 runs. 

With Silva dismissed and McLean’s (60) outstanding innings coming to an end, Edmonds and Joyce proceeded to contribute a partnership of 69 runs before Edmonds was dismissed for a well-constructed 46. Kade Dittmar and Joyce scored a further 47 runs before Dittmar (15) and Joyce (76) were caught out looking to push the total well past 200.

The Hawks managed to complete their 50 overs scoring an impressive total of 8/235.

Leigh Westcott and Aaron Thomas opened the bowling, building pressure immediately on the Dunsborough batting line up.

Thomas was soon the beneficiary of an impressive bowling combination, removing 3 of the top 4 batsmen, having Dunsborough reeling at 3/18.

On a deck that was becoming easier to bat on as the afternoon progressed, the Hawks had to work hard to build pressure and create the opportunities to take wickets.

Dunsborough batsman Phil Watts (56) offered up some strong resistance but in the end it was pressure applied to his batting partners that resulted in wickets continuing to fall.

Eventually Dunsborough were all out for 119.

Top performers in the field were Thomas (3/16 from 8 overs), Grant Garstone with 3 catches and Stuart Roberts with a brilliant direct-hit runout. 

The bonus point win means A-grade are currently in third position but only one game off top spot on the ladder.

The Hawks are setting themselves to finish the season strong and secure a top two position going into the 2018/19 Finals Series.

Barnard Park will host one of the highlights of the cricket season this Saturday when the Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association’s T20 grand finals will be played across all three grades.

What shapes as a day to remember will also feature the first ever all-women’s game in the region, between a YOBS side and a combined women’s team from other clubs.

This historic game is due to start around midday. Dunsborough Cricket Club has been the star performer in this season’s men’s T20 competition so far, and has managed to get all three of its sides into the A-Grade, B-Grade and C-Grade grand finals.

The A-Grade grand final, starting at 3.30pm on the main turf oval, will be a repeat fixture of last year’s inaugural T20 competition grand final with Dunsborough (the reigning premiers) under Nick Ritchie again taking on YOBS, led by Ben Payne.

The earlier B-Grade grand final on the main oval, starting around 12 noon, will see Dunsborough (led by Ian Purcell) up against a rejuvenated Vasse Cricket Club (led by Shane Bromilow).

The C-Grade grand final, which will follow the women’s game on the synthetic oval, is set to start around 2pm and will see Dunsborough (captained by Andy Mahoney) pitted against the young Augusta side (led by Tyson Warnke).

The mid-season T20 competition has again proved a hit with the teams, who have enjoyed the shorter format as a break from the usual 50-over, 45-over and 40-over games of the standard home-and-away competition.

All three grades of T20 cricket were close fought this season, with net run rates being needed to decide the grand finalists in all three divisions.

Last Saturday’s last qualifying round of A-Grade T20 games at Barnard Park saw YOBS post a score of 110 all out, which Margaret River Hawks surpassed with eight balls to spare, thanks to Shane Joyce (37) and Gareth Edmonds (28 not out).

There was a hiccup late in the piece when Hawks batsman Stu Roberts failed to connect with a short ball and was struck right between the eyes. He was led from the field, with only a few runs needed to win the game.

The second A-Grade game on Saturday saw Dunsborough convincingly outplay St Marys.

A sparkling knock of 55 by Matt Jamieson was the highlight, featuring four sixes in his first five scoring shots, as Dunsborough posted a strong score of 5-146 from their 20 overs.

Saints never recovered from the loss of Marc Ford to the opening ball of the innings, and then Nick Barr to the first ball of the second over, eventually ending on 8-92.

Lachie Milton’s bowling was a highlight for Dunsborough.

Dunsborough were unbeaten from four games in the T20 preliminary rounds. YOBS snuck into the grand final with two wins and two losses, on net run rates, just ahead of an unlucky Hawks and St Marys.

Dunsborough made it three wins from four games in the preliminary rounds of the B-Grade T20 competition when they defeated Vasse at the Vasse Playing Fields on Saturday.

Vasse made 97 all out, a total which was surpassed by Dunsborough for the loss of only four wickets, with Tom Begley hitting an unbeaten 44. Down at Margaret River, YOBS compiled a winning total of 7-142 off 20 overs in their game against Hawks thanks to a hard-hitting 40 off 20 balls by Justin Gilbert. Gilbert capped a great personal performance when he took 3-12 off four overs as Hawks responded with 8-113.

Despite their loss to Dunsborough, Vasse snuck into the B-Grade T20 grand final ahead of YOBS and St Marys on net run rates, all three sides finishing with two wins and two losses from four games.

Masters Cricket In windy conditions at Barnard Park on Sunday, Dunsborough Ducks held on to defeat Numbats in a tight contest.

Aaron (Moose) Stone played a great captain’s knock late in the game to get Dunsborough home after Numbats took some early wickets.

Vasse C-Grade opening batsman Dennis Amour enjoyed a great day out when he hit a double of 58 not out and 73 not out to see his side win both its T20 matches at Churchill Park on Saturday.

Despite the results, Vasse missed out on a spot in the C-Grade T20 grand final this Saturday.

Dunsborough made it four wins from four preliminary games when they outplayed YOBS at Barnard Park, with skipper Andy Mahoney hitting an unbeaten 54.

Augusta scored a strong win over Nannup to snatch second spot on the ladder, and a berth in the grand final, over YOBS on net run rates.

Cowaramup scored a consolation win over Hawks with Austin Empson scoring an impressive 48.

Results: Vasse 3-105 (D. Amour 58no, L. Guthridge 2-7) b Nannup 9-97 (T. Rasmussen 32, K. Price 3-6, D. Nisbett 3-19). YOBS 5-135 (S. White 79no) b St Marys 9-132 (M. Yarwood 50). Cowaramup 3-95 (A. Empson 48) b MR Hawks 7-94 (J. Cooke 2-5, B. Cawley 2-13). Vasse 4-122 (D. Amour 73no, L. Campbell 2-17) b St Marys 6-119 (M. Yarwood 28, M. Gould 2-12). Dunsborough 2-114 (A. Mahoney 54no, R. Pes 37no) b YOBS 5-108 (L. Gray 25). Augusta 5-148 (B. Warnke 38, S. Mills 2-21) b Nannup 84 (P. Bresser 19, J. Taylor 2-9, B. Gillam 2-19).