FOLLOWING the success of last year's event, a big crowd is expected at Barnard Park this weekend for the third annual Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association T20 grand finals.
YOBS will be defending their T20 A-Grade premiership when they take on St Marys in the main game, starting on Barnard Park turf at 3.30pm Saturday.
The T20 B-Grade grand final, to be held on the main ground as a curtain-raiser to the A-Grade game, will start at 12.30pm and will see Vasse attempting to defend their title from last year when they take on Cowaramup.
The T20 C-Grade grand final, being staged on the western Barnard synthetic oval starting at 2.30pm, will see Dunsborough take on the Busselton All Stars (playing their inaugural season in the BMRCA competition).
Cricketers from Busselton-Margaret River's A-Section and C-Section sides fought hard at Country Week... Fraser Oates was the stand-out batsman for Busselton-Margaret River, scoring 63, 40, 77 and 43 not out in four of his five innings for the No. 1 side.
- Allan Miller
Attempts are also being made to organise a women's game, as a follow-up to last year's inaugural game between a YOBS women's team and a combination women's side from the rest of the association. If the women's game can be arranged it will start at 12 noon Saturday on the western synthetic oval.
Nannup players and partners have volunteered to run the bar at the Barnard Pavilion, while cricketers from Cowaramup, Hawks, Vasse and Dunsborough will staff the canteen on the day.
With a bye for all grades last weekend, players reflected on the Country Week campaign that came to a head in Perth on Friday. Cricketers from Busselton-Margaret River's A-Section and C-Section sides fought hard at Country Week before both sides were defeated in their groups.
Fraser Oates was the stand-out batsman for Busselton-Margaret River, scoring 63, 40, 77 and 43 not out in four of his five innings for the No. 1 side. Wednesday's game against the Eastern Goldfields team (the eventual A-Section champions) started well for Busselton-Margaret River when Ricky Small-Boyce captured two early wickets to have Goldfields at 2-11.
However, Goldfields recovered to make a massive 5-358 from their 60 overs - an impossible target - and it was tough going from then on for the No. 1 side, losing to Albany in Thursday's semi-final before scoring a consolation win over West Pilbara in Friday's last game in A-Section.
Offspinner Ben Payne took excellent figures of 6-35 in Thursday's game against Albany, while Ricky Small-Boyce was the most consistent of the fast bowlers for Busselton-Margaret River during the week.
The No. 2 side battled hard in C-Section but was outclassed, being bowled out for 50 and 88 on Wednesday and Thursday, before playing a T20 consolation game on Friday. One of the highlights for the No. 2 team was the rare feat by Matty Braid of opening the innings and carrying his bat for 35 not out in Friday's innings of 93 against Upper Great Southern. Taylor Chandler was the most impressive player for Busselton-Margaret River's No. 2 team during the week, earning his elevation to the No. 1 side for Friday's consolation game.