A RARE milestone was achieved in Busselton-Margaret River cricket on Saturday when veteran fast bowler Neil Langenhoven captured his 500th A-Grade wicket for YOBS.
Langenhoven is believed to be only the second bowler, after fellow YOBS player Mike Adams, to take 500 A-Grade wickets for one club in the 109-year history of the Busselton cricket competition.
Appropriately, Langenhoven achieved the milestone single-handedly with a caught-and-bowled to dismiss Margaret River Hawks allrounder Grant Garstone.
The game represented a high point for YOBS this season, as they demolished an undermanned Hawks at Barnard Park to claim back top place on the Yates Shield A-Grade ladder.
The game represented a high point for YOBS this season, as they demolished an undermanned Hawks at Barnard Park to claim back top place on the Yates Shield A-Grade ladder.
- Allan Miller
The game was all over by 3.30pm, after YOBS dismissed Hawks for 71 in 21 overs, then took only 19 overs to knock off the winning runs.
Another statistical achievement on Saturday occurred when YOBS wicketkeeper Brandan Stonehouse captured a record-equalling seven dismissals in the innings.
Stonehouse held six catches and completed one stumping - up to the stumps off Langenhoven's fast bowling - to equal a wicketkeeping record established in 1984 by Rodney Griffiths - a cricketer who is still playing for YOBS in the lower grades.
YOBS captain Haig Colombera (3-31) and left-armer Matt Connaughton (3-7) assisted Langenhoven (4-23) in Saturday's demolition of Hawks, who were minus injured players Shane Joyce, Kade Dittmar and Aaron Thomas.
In the other A-grade game, Dunsborough snuck home by two wickets to beat St Marys in a great contest at the Dunsborough Playing Fields, played in excellent spirit.
Batting first, St Marys got off to a promising 43-run start through James Courtney-Bennett and Ryan Lohr, but were held to 154 all out, thanks to an outstanding spell of fast bowling from Ricky Small-Boyce (4-28) and three wickets from Nathan Whitney.
The game hung in the balance throughout Dunsborough's reply, and when Dunsborough's seventh wicket fell with the score at 109, it looked like Saints might be able to defend a low total for the second week running, without the injured Danny Hatton at the helm.
Skipper Ian Purcell (46 not out) then showed a cool head in the crisis to get Dunsborough across the line, with Whitney at the other end.
The A-Grade table for the Yates Shield now sees YOBS and Hawks tied on six wins and four losses, followed by Dunsborough (five and five) and St Marys (three wins and seven losses).
In B-Grade cricket on Saturday, YOBS compiled 8-153 (Jeremy Bruse 35, Alex Logan 34) and then bowled out Vasse for 94 to maintain their grip on top spot.
Skipper Justin Gilbert took 6-15 with his left-arm pace to lead YOBS from the front.
The closest match of the B-Grade round, like that in A-grade, took place at Dunsborough, this time with St Marys turning the tables on the home side to win with five balls to spare and three wickets in hand.
Dunsborough's total of 7-157 included 74 not out from Ray Pes. Dave La Mott's 73 played the key role for St Marys in their winning reply.
Cowaramup took advantage of Kavy de Silva's presence to beat Hawks on the turf at the Cowaramup cricket ground. De Silva smashed 78 from 67 balls, with 8 fours and 2 sixes, and then took 3-11 as the Bulls bowled out Hawks for 149. In C-Grade cricket, Nannup and YOBS fought out a tie at Churchill Park, with each side scoring 171 from 40 overs. Cowaramup defeated Hawks while Dunsborough scored an 8-run win over Vasse.