ST MARYS legspinner Josh Perks caused a sensation in local cricket circles last Saturday when he took four wickets in four balls against YOBS at Barnard Park.
Since the Busselton and Margaret River Cricket Associations joined in 1975, only one other bowler – Neville Mincherton for Abba River-Newtown in 1984-85 – is known to have taken four wickets in four balls in senior ranks.
The only other instance known in local cricket history was achieved by Mike Adams for the Oddbods club in the old Busselton Cricket Association in 1968-69.
Playing on the turf at Barnard Park in a B-grade game on Saturday, the 17-year-old Perks had a catch taken at square leg by Jake Hand to finish an over, then catches at long-on by Dylan Tomlinson and mid-off by club president Ben Mattock off the first two balls of the next over to complete the hat-trick.
Incoming YOBS batsman Ky Spowart then obliged by chopping the next ball on to his stumps.
The game was a memorable one for all involved, as YOBS held on to beat St Marys by only seven runs.
YOBS looked set to score a comfortable win until late in the piece, when a seriously ill Todd Hartnett (52 not out) nearly stole it for Saints after retiring earlier due to dry-wretching in the heat.
Jake Wain (53) and stand-in skipper Haig Colombera (40) capitalised on dropped catches to top score in YOBS’ innings of 174 all out, after Colombera won the toss and took first use of a pitch which kept low for most of the day.
The other B-grade game, played at Margaret River, was also a close affair with Dunsborough getting up to beat Hawks by four wickets with four overs to spare.
Hawks batted first and made 9-169 from their 45 overs, with Colin Baker (43 not out) top scoring and getting assistance from Alastair Wilkie and Danny Weston (each 32 runs).
Left-armer Richard Norrish with 4-19 from nine overs was outstanding with the ball for Dunsborough.
In reply, Dunsborough put in a strong team performance with seven of their eight batsmen reaching double figures, Cam Morris (33) the best of them.
Alex Coultas and skipper Ian Purcell guided the side home to victory in the 41st over.
