Two of the greatest catches ever taken in the Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association provided the highlights in an outstanding round of A-Grade cricket on Saturday, when teams resumed the home-and-away competition for the Yates Shield and Barnard Cup.
For possibly the first time in the same round of BMRCA, two A-Grade teams were defeated after both had scored over 200 runs batting first.
At Margaret River, YOBS compiled 7-216 from their 50 overs and were beaten by Margaret River Hawks, who chased down the target with two wickets left and 10 balls to spare.
Meanwhile at Dunsborough, in a game which finished in the dark at 7.15pm, Dunsborough amassed 9-209 from 50 overs but lost to St Marys, who were seven wickets down when Nick Ritchie hit the winning runs with four balls left of their 50 overs.
Kavy de Silva was the hero for Hawks in their win, smashing 76 runs before falling to a sensational catch by YOBS allrounder Ben Payne, diving full length at long-on to scoop up a ball that was hit like a rocket.
Ultimately it was Darcy Bailey and Chris McLean who helped get Hawks across the line in a game which YOBS seemed likely to retain until a crucial ball went for five wides in the 49th over.
Mention should also be made of Bailey Kelly (29) and Kurt Thompson (20) who scored vital runs in the middle order for Hawks.
Nayton Colombera's unbeaten 71, and a hard-hitting 42 from skipper Haig Colombera, formed the backbone of YOBS' imposing total of 7-216 after the visitors opted to have first use of an excellent wicket in perfect conditions.
Fielding errors by Hawks looked as though they would cost them the game. No fewer than eight catches were put down in the YOBS innings.
At Dunsborough, a sensational catch on the deep midwicket boundary by Billy McGowan in the 49th over of the Saints innings to dismiss Jono Lloyd (28) in near-dark conditions gave the spectators something to remember.
Earlier, Dunsborough got away to a brilliant start with Aaron Mott (40), Chris King (34) and Phil Watts (an excellent 80 runs) helping them to 2-183 at one point.
Alex Cooke's patient 23 also played its part in helping Dunsborough to make an excellent total, before five wickets (all bowled) tumbled in the final two overs to Saints pace bowlers Rory Calhoun and Justin Chandler.
The St Marys innings followed a similar course, with Nick Barr (39), Cary Green (36) and Nick Ritchie (78 not out) scoring early runs against a Dunsborough attack whose best bowlers were left-arm spinner Cameron Sharpe (2-31) and legspinner Hugh Mugford (4-43).
Dunsborough's defeat now makes it virtually impossible for them to qualify for the A-Grade finals, with Hawks (66 points), St Marys (61 points) and YOBS (56 points) all locked in a battle for first place and the right to host the grand finals.
In B-Grade cricket on Saturday, Margaret River Hawks took less than 2 1/2 hours to defeat YOBS at Gloucester Park.
Batting first, YOBS were dismissed for 67 in 26.1 overs, with Trent Matthews (4-13) the dominant bowler.
Hawks chased down the runs in just 8.3 overs for the loss of only one wicket, with skipper Grant Garstone (52 not out off 26 balls) in typical hard-hitting form.
In the other B-Grade game, played on the turf at Barnard Park, Vasse (189 all out, with Sam Shepherd hitting 66) had the better of St Marys (133, with Jacob Cook scoring 50).
In C-Grade cricket, Vasse defeated St Marys, Nannup had the better of Hawks, and YOBS overcame Cowaramup.
