FIRST-YEAR captain Nick Ritchie and new recruit Mick Walker rewrote the record book when they established an all-wicket partnership record for Dunsborough Cricket Club in Saturday’s A-grade cricket game against Cowaramup at the Dunsborough Playing Fields.
Ritchie struck a virtually chanceless 117 not out and combined with Walker (89no) in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 212 as they took the team total from 3-91 to 3-303 after 50 overs.
The game provided a rare instance of no wickets falling after drinks, as Dunsborough progressed from 3-100 to 3-303 in the final 25 overs.
Cowaramup, undermanned but playing with plenty of spirit, claimed both openers with successive balls in interesting circumstances in the 15th over.
After Aaron Mott (29) had pulled hard to Ben Shepherd at square-leg, new arrival Mat Jamieson smashed his first ball straight back at bowler Richard Bramston, who got a finger on the rocket as it flew into the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Aaron Andrich (28) just short of his ground. Bramston (2-30) was far and away the best of the Bulls attack.
Dunsborough’s opening bowling combination of Ricky Small-Boyce and Josh Reagan then sent down 20 overs unchanged, the West Indian claiming 3-30 and Reagan taking 2-32 as Cowaramup scrambled to finish on 102 all out.
Sam Berridge entertained the watchers with a stand-and-deliver knock of 25 to top score for the Bulls.
YOBS v Margaret River
YOBS had the better of Margaret River Hawks in their contest at Barnard Park.
The unfamiliar opening attack of Leigh Westcott (1-39) and Aaron Thomas (3-33) for Hawks kept YOBS top order on their toes, with teenager Troyden Thorp (57 off 93 balls) going on to top score.
Leg spinners Peter Crimp (3-29) and Chris McLean (1-34) both impressed with the ball in a good team performance from Hawks.
McLean continued a good day when he opened the Hawks batting and notched 69 to give his side a strong chance. Young YOBS allrounder Ethan Piggott claimed great figures of 2-22 from 10 overs, including the prized wicket of Shane Joyce with his first ball, while Harvey Golding executed a smart run out from point to see Kade Dittmar back in the pavilion for 10.
Ryan Miller’s comeback for Hawks was ended early by Neil Langenhoven, and the final four wickets for Hawks failed to notch a run between them as Nayton Colombera (3-9) snuffed out the visitors’ hopes of getting up.
B grade
The talk of the town was Vasse’s demolition of Dunsborough at the Vasse Playing Fields. Vasse left-armer Scott Young claimed brilliant figures of 5-13 off nine overs as Dunborough was routed for just 37 in 18 overs, in response to a total of 173 all out. Sam Shepherd also claimed 3-20 after earlier topscoring with 62 at first drop for Vasse.
In the other game YOBS had the better of Hawks in a tight contest on the turf at Bovell Park. Veteran Cam Snow led the way for YOBS with 37 runs and 3-18, while Michael Earl did likewise for Hawks, taking 4-18 and then top scoring with 38.
In the inaugural round of the new Masters cricket competition, played at Barnard Park on Sunday, Numbats outlasted GeriHatricks by 19 runs.
B-Grade results:
Vasse 173 (42.1 overs) (S. Shepherd 62, S. Bromilow 25, A. Eades 23, B. Glasspool 3-39, I. Purcell 2-10, J. Omodei 2-37) b Dunsborough 37 (18 overs) (T. Schofield 10, S. Young 5-13, S. Shepherd 3-20) at Vasse.
YOBS 124 (40 overs) (C. Snow 37, J. Kemp 34, M. Earl 4-18, D. Bailey 2-18, T. Thomas 2-22) b MR Hawks 98 (35.3 overs) (M. Earl 38, J. Stanbury 15, C. Snow 3-18, J. Mewett 3-27, J. Trewren 2-17, J. Gilbert 2-24) at Bovell Turf.
Masters Results:
Numbats 8-165 (25 overs) b GeriHatricks 146 (25 overs)
