A CENTURY in 25 overs by Aaron Andrich and a great debut performance by Alex Roberts helped set up Dunsborough for an impressive win over Cowaramup in A-Grade cricket at the Dunsborough Playing Fields on Saturday.
Roberts, who has been recruited by Dunsborough from Rockingham-Mandurah, hit the first three balls of the game for four - maybe the first time a debutant has ever done this - and went on to make 69 runs before a spectacular one-handed catch by Josh Curtis at midwicket ended his stay.
Andrich, who came to the wicket in the 26th over, then hit seven sixes in his innings of 113 not out off 72 balls (including three sixes off three balls off Curtis's bowling) as Dunsborough amassed 4-245 from their 50 overs.
Cowaramup were heavily depleted by the unavailability of Rumesh Silva, Fraser Oates, Shane and Oscar Herbst, and suffered another blow when captain Kavy de Silva strained a side muscle in the field.
The Bulls responded to Dunsborough's score by making a gutsy 8-168 off 50 overs, with young Finn Barrett-Lennard (35) and Rory De Vaney (31) the best of their batsmen.
Aaron Mott starred with the gloves for Dunsborough by making three stumpings, while offspinner Elijah Truscott (2-23) enjoyed a promising A-Grade debut.
At Barnard Park, Yallingup-Oddbods continued their unbeaten run by beating St Marys in a close-fought affair.
Put into bat, St Marys compiled 127 off 41 overs, with Ben Lloyd (36) showing plenty of application in the conditions and opener Ryan Lohr (31) also impressing.
Offie Ben Payne (3-21) and skipper Haig Colombera (2-19) led the bowling for Yallingup-Oddbods.
Chasing, Yallingup-Oddbods were in a bit of strife at 5-86 before Haig Colombera (27 not out off 20 balls) played the decisive knock to see his team across the line for a four-wicket win in the 39th over.
Allrounder Justin Chandler gave Saints their best chance of victory with 3-33 (all bowled).
For the second game in a row Saints left-arm recruit Tom Keeffe showed he is one of the best fielders in the competition, this time holding an excellent ankle-high catch off his own bowling to dismiss opening bat Justin Gilbert.
In B-Grade cricket, Margaret River Hawks were delighted to be able to bring back allrounder Mark Natale for their game on Bovell turf against Yallingup-Oddbods.
Natale took 6-10 and Mat Kent took 2-5 as Yallingup-Oddbods were routed for 41 all out in 20 overs.
Natale doubled-up with 33 not out as Hawks cantered home for a nine-wicket win in 10.1 overs.
The other B-Grade game saw a great contest at the Vasse Playing Fields, with St Marys compiling a highly defendable 8-174 from 45 overs, with Kye Barrow (38) leading a strong team effort.
Vasse were in all sorts of trouble in reply at 2-4, and again looked like they would lose at 4-54, before Chris Cook (52) and Mat Kammann (79 not out) turned the game on its head with a match-winning unbeaten stand of 81 to see Vasse victorious by four wickets.
In C-Grade cricket, YOBS Academy compiled 75 in their inaugural game (Cam Jones taking 3-7) before losing to Yallingup-Oddbods by eight wickets at Barnard Park. Gary Mayers (24 not out) enjoyed his first game back for 15 years for the winners.
Dunsborough amassed 9-176, with young Charlie Siney hitting 50, to beat Cowaramup (123, Quinn Giroud 35) at the Dunsborough Playing Fields.
At Churchill Park, St Marys made 9-138 with Michael Cooper hitting 39, before being overwhelmed by Vasse (1-143 in just 27 overs) in a nine-wicket result.
Down at Nannup, spinner Emma Bresser struck another blow for the ladies by taking an impressive 4-33 as Hawks (99 all out, Shane Joyce 33) were overtaken by the home side (4-100).
