Cricket
DONNYBROOK scored a comprehensive victory over Boyup Brook on Saturday in a telling round of fixtures heading into the finals.
Needing to win to secure a finals berth, Donnybrook were brilliant with the bat, piling on 258 for the loss of only 6 wickets. Boyup had some big omissions from their normal line up and it showed as they were totally outclassed by the visitors.
Donnybrook won the toss and elected to send the home side in. Boyup had a chance to slip into the finals if they could score a big total, but that wasn’t to be as they could only muster together 88.
Norm Bedford was the shining light of the Donnybrook bowling attack, claiming 5/6 in another great performance.
Donnybrook’s bowlers gifted Boyup 25 extras and need to improve heading into the business end of the season. However it was with the bat where they most excelled.
James Harcourt started the ball rolling, scoring 38. Phil Welsh returned from a hamstring injury to craft out a solid 49. Some big hitting came from a new player and Donnybrook Police officer.
Stratton took the score beyond 150 as he plundered the Boyup attack for 52 in an innings that saw him hit 7 sixes. Dan Shephard (38) and Richard Liccardello (30no) rounded out an impressive total. Donnybrook claiming a solid five-wicket victory.
The top of the table clash between Bridgetown and Preston was a low scoring stoush that would have had ramifications on the ladder if Preston could claim victory. Bridgetown batted first and had a solid start through Sam Green (19), Shane Glancy (28) and a patient 57 from opener Hugh Mitchell. Bridgetown lost wickets sporadically after drinks as captain Simon Duncan tried to hold the innings together with a robust score of 30. Duncan ran out of support and his wicket, which was taken in the last over, was the last to fall for the visitors. Preston held their nerve to fight back from 1/88 at drinks to bowl Bridgetown all out for 168. Scott Tynan had a day out with the ball claiming 5/36 with his off spin to be Prestons best with the ball.
After losing opener Dan Smith quite early, Preston’s batsmen set about chasing down Bridgetown’s satisfactory total. Joel and Dion Parker again proved they have enough skill and patience to become a great batting combination in the future. Joel scored 33 and Dion Parker made 20 as the two batted through vital overs against a quality attack. Prestons batsmen were tested by some fine bowling from Bridgetown. Shaun Gardiner stayed at the crease and batted his way to 27, after his departure Preston were still in the hunt but needed some vital runs from their tail enders. This wasn’t to be the case as Preston again felt the pressure to be all out for 138 falling 30 runs short.
Simon Duncan again bowled well, claiming 4/27 which included important middle order hitters for Preston. He was well supported by Doug Troode who finished with 2/36.
Bridgetown have now secured a home Grand Final and will finish minor premiers, as the last fixture before finals will be played out this Saturday. Preston will travel to Boyup Brook and Bridgetown will host Donnybrook.
