MARGARET River Hawks have cleared out on top of the Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association A-Grade points table after beating YOBS in an entertaining rain-shortened game at Gloucester Park on Saturday.
Rain on Friday and Saturday created challenging conditions for cricket, but good use of covers and the willingness of the teams to adapt to a shorter 30-overs-a-side game provided the backdrop for some excellent cricket.
Sent in to bat, YOBS were dismissed for 100 in the 30th and final over of their allotment, with Troyden Thorp continuing his promising early-season form with a valuable 36 off 51 balls.
Hawks had good use from their entire attack, with skipper Mat Kent (3-12), Kavy de Silva (2-22) and Mark Natale (a miserly 1-5 off 6 overs) make the best use of the conditions.
Set 101 for victory in 30 overs, Hawks owed their win almost entirely to de Silva, who struck an unbeaten 48, with Natale providing strong support with 24 at the top of the innings.
Ultimately, Hawks were seven wickets down and had 3.3 overs to spare when the winning runs came.
Offspinner Ben Payne starred with the ball for YOBS, taking 4-21 off six overs.
Indigenous heritage in the Busselton-Margaret River region was recognised before Saturday's cricket at Gloucester Park in Margaret River when a barefoot circle was formed by six teams participating in the three games of A, B and C-Grade cricket at the ground.
Margaret River Hawks Cricket Club President Alastair Wilkie recognised the indigenous elders of the region with a short speech at midday, before the teams went on their way.
The other A-Grade cricket game last Saturday, held at Barnard Park in Busselton, was destroyed by rain after Saints got off to a strong start against Dunsborough by hitting 1-52 off the first 10 overs before the wintry conditions made further play impossible.
Cary Green (23 not out) and Nick Ritchie (15 not out) were showing good form with the bat before the game was abandoned.
Michael Byrne was the sole wicket-taker for Dunsborough, who won the toss and put Saints in to bat.
One B-Grade cricket game managed to reach a conclusion last Saturday, with Margaret River Hawks and Vasse playing a shortened T20 format at Gloucester Park.
Vasse were dismissed for 94 on the knock of 20 overs exactly, with former YOBS allrounder Jack O'Malley hitting an outstanding 55 off 41 balls, with 4 fours and 3 sixes.
Jordan Stanbury captured 4-27 for Hawks and was well supported by Danny Weston with 2-15.
Chasing 95 to win, Hawks cruised home with Kade Dittmar (37 not out) and skipper Grant Garstone (34 not out from 15 balls, with 4 fours and 2 sixes) leading the way.
Ultimately, Hawks had eight wickets and 6.2 overs to spare when the winning runs came.
The other B-Grade game, held at Bovell Park, saw Dunsborough compile 0-21 from 5.4 overs against St Marys when the rain came and washed out play for the day.
Two of the three C-Grade games were washed out without a ball bowled, involving Hawks v YOBS at Margaret River Nippers Oval and Dunsborough v Cowaramup at Dunsborough.
The only C-Grade game to see any action was at Barnard Park, where Nannup started and had 0-16 on the board from 8.3 overs against St Marys before rain arrived to end play for the day.
