PHOTOS: Sophia Clements
The race to the finals intensified in all grades last Saturday in the Busselton Margaret River Cricket Association.
With only five rounds to go in the regular season several close matches were played out across the region.
In A grade, ladder leaders Yobs continued its solid form posting an outright win over Cowaramup and sees Yobs break clear of the rest of the field in A grade.
In the other A grade game, second place Dunsborough accounted for St Mary’s in a closer contest, while Margaret River had a bye.
In B grade, wins by Vasse and Dunsborough have given them top places on the ladder, while a solid win by Yobs over Margaret River sees the Busselton side keep their chances alive of a finals berth.
Yobs currently sit in 5th place and are two wins away from 4th placed St Mary’s with 4 rounds to go.
In C grade, a remarkable game between Augusta and Cowaramup saw Augusta post a massive 4/342 off its allotted 40 overs.
Ben Kennedy (108 runs) and Ivan Mutnica(102runs) both posting centuries for Augusta and in reply Cowaramup was dismissed for 95.
Saturday’s B grade fixture between Vasse and St Mary’s had special significance for the home side with Vasse’s Brendan Cribb playing his 100th game for the club.
Cribb joined Matt Kamman in becoming only the second player to play 100 games for BRMCAs newest club.
On winning the toss St Mary’s sent Vasse into bat and the innings began in characteristic fashion for Cribb who raced to 44 before hitting a return catch to Jordan Perkusich.
St Mary’s bowled well and steadily took wickets before a rear guard action led by man of the match Adam Booth (40 not out) saw Vasse post a competitive 10/188.
Perkusich was the pick of the St Marys’s bowlers returning 3/27 off nine overs.
In reply, solid spells from Dean Ebert(3/23) and Cribb (3/14) saw St Mary’s struggle to reach the target, eventually dismissed in the 31st over for 114.
Vasse captain John Albury was happy to claim the win and bonus points and said it was his side biggest winning margin over St Mary’s this year.
“We had many contributors but Adam Booth was probably the difference as we looked like posting about 150, but his innings saw us up to 188,” he said.
Albury also praised the efforts of both Cribb and Matt Kamman and was delighted the side could post a win, in Cribbs 100th game.
Vasse now look to cement their place in the top two when they take on Yobs this Saturday, while St Mary’s will look to bounce back when they travel to Cowaramup.
