A vintage display of big hitting by Kavy de Silva was responsible for the boil over of the A-grade cricket season on Saturday when reigning premiers and ladder leaders YOBS were outplayed by bottom team Cowaramup at Bovell Park.
Cowaramup’s overdue win – their first victory in the home-and-away competition all summer – has put St Mary's back on top of the table in the fight for the Yates Shield for the minor premiership.
Saints overcame Margaret River Hawks in their close-fought tussle at Barnard Park, winning by just 16 runs.
With this Saturday’s last round of qualifying games remaining for both sides, St Mary's are sitting on 93 points, followed by YOBS on 92 points.
Saints will play Cowaramup on Saturday, while YOBS are up against Dunsborough. If Saints can take the maximum 12 points from their game, they will claim the Yates Shield for only the second time since 1988.
Cowaramup looked on the road for another defeat last weekend after being put into bat by YOBS at Bovell Park. At the 25-over mark the Bulls had been restricted to just 2-42, thanks to tight bowling from Matt Connaughton and Neil Langenhoven.
Connaughton finished his 10 overs with seven maidens and figures of 1-10. He would have had 2-6 had a chance in his last over been held at slip. Instead, the ball went for four.
De Silva, who came in at number 5, smashed 87 runs in a solo display to get the Bulls up to 172 all out. The highlight of his stay was four sixes in a single over from YOBS captain Ben Payne, followed by another six in the next over.
Cowaramup defended their total with a strong bowling effort, led by Fraser Oates (4-32 off 10 overs) and Nick Healy and Connor Oates with two wickets each.
The contest between Saints and Hawks at Barnard Park was close-fought all day. Shay Thackrah made the most of his elevation to open the batting with a strong 59 for Saints, followed by 35 from the reliable Ben Lloyd.
Saints’ lower order crumbled as they lost their last 5-10 to finish on 146 all out.
Leg spinner Peter Crimp captured another three wickets for Hawks to remain in contention for the Association’s bowling aggregate award, while left-armers Rumesh Silva (1-16 off 10 overs) and Grant Garstone also impressed.
Chasing, stand-in skipper Shane Joyce hit 33 runs to give Hawks a real chance of victory, but from 7-128 the southerners collapsed to lose their last 3-1, thanks to the wiles of Saints skipper Danny Hatton and legspinner Joe Lowe.
B-grade
The battle of the top two sides in B-Grade cricket at Vasse Playing Fields on Saturday saw the home team emerge triumphant against YOBS.
Five wickets by young spinner Tom Perks saw YOBS dismissed for 117, chasing Vasse’s total of 176 all out.
Hawks won a tight contest against St Mary's on the synthetic wicket at Barnard Park in a game which went into the dark. Michael Earl’s 63 runs helped Hawks total 7-185 from their 45 overs, and in return Saints were restricted to 8-173 runs to go down by just 12 runs.
B-grade results: MR Hawks 7-185 (45 overs) (M. Earl 63, A. Bailey 42, B. Crain 3-32, C. Roberts 2-18) b St Marys 8-173 (45 overs) (A. Balkin 47, M. Yarwood 32, T. Thomas 2-25, K. Thompson 2-25). Vasse 176 (43 overs) (J. Grylls 4-20, J. Gilbert 2-29, J. Taylor 2-32) b YOBS 117 (37 overs) (J. Bruse 31, T. Perks 5 wkts, D. Ebert 2 wkts, M. Darragh 2 wkts).
Masters
This Sunday will see the grand final in the masters competition played at Barnard Park between Dunsborough Ducks and Cowaramup Old Cricketers, starting at 1pm. Players from all teams in the masters competition are invited to the barbecue at the game, with the windup at the pavilion to follow the grand final.
