Donnybrook Cricket Club took a big step forward towards getting their season back on track with a thrilling one-wicket win over the second placed Colts Cricket Club at the Bunbury Recreational Ground on Saturday.
After losing the toss and sent to field first the Dons welcomed back paceman Neil Robertson (2-21) after a three-week absence with the new ball.
It took the quick a few overs to find his rhythm again, but an early wicket seen him back to his best . At the other end Brad Swarbrick (2-29) took wickets in consecutive overs to have the home side in trouble early at 3-44.
The fielding of the Dons was the highlight of their innings as they took a number of quality catches and also a run-out which stopped Colts building any momentum. Chris Morgan (1-12) was among the wicket takers with some outstanding fast bowling and young gun Joel Parker (3-25) returned with the best figures of the day with his off spin, ripping through the middle order to help bowl the home side out for just 122 runs.
The fielding of the Dons was the highlight of their innings as they took a number of quality catches and also a run-out which stopped Colts building any momentum.
The run chase couldn't have started any worse for the Dons with James Harcourt (0) spooning one to mid wicket in the first over, and when Phil Welsh (1) and Norm Bedford (10) fell cheaply the modest total suddenly looked a mile away at 3 for 16.
Joel Parker and Wayne Clifford began the rebuild as they dug deep for their runs but when Parker was dismissed for 37 that sparked a middle order collapse for the Dons as they lost their next four wickets for just 17 runs.
Tail-ender Morgan played his role beautifully holding up an end and allowed Clifford (38 not out) to score the runs; although he did give the opposition a number of opportunities in the field, none were taken, which proved to be the difference in the end as the hard hitting veteran hit the winning runs in the 33rd over to give the Dons a one-wicket win – their second of the season.
The Dons return home this week to host Dayellup Beach in what will be the last of the 50-over matches until next year.
