Hawks cruise in run chase

A spectacular batting collapse by reigning premiers St Mary’s handed top spot on the Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association A-grade ladder to the Hawks on Saturday.

Saints captain Danny Hatton won the toss and batted first on a seemingly good wicket.

St Mary’s looked to be cruising at 1-47 off just eight overs with an impressive run rate and opener Jono Lloyd (23) in good form.

But intimidating Hawks fast bowler Leigh Westcott had other ideas, knocking over Marc Fords’ off stump. Westcott took the first four wickets of the match including danger man Hatton leg before wicket.

When standout English import Joe Lowe was run out by Peter Crimp, the Hawks could smell an upset.

The Saints couldn’t stop the rot, losing 6-14 in a devastating spell where Westcott and Hawks captain Matthew Kent tightened the screws on an unsuspecting batting line-up.

The wickets continued to fall after the drinks break as Wescott took the final wicket to finish with 5-25.

The Hawks set about chasing the modest target of 77 quickly with openers Chris McLean (21) and first-drop Shane Joyce (36) the pick of the batsmen.

Exciting Hawks all-rounder Rumesh Silva was trapped leg before wicket for just 10, but that brought Joyce to the wicket and he showed his class reaching the boundary several times.

Despite a slight hiccup when young batsman Kade Dittmar was bowled for a duck, the Hawks easily chased down the runs in just 18 overs.

After the game, Kent said he was proud of the pressure his team was able to apply in the field.

“It was a pretty good team effort and shows all of our hard work at training is starting to pay off,” he said.

“Our bowlers were relentless and going into next week we want to maintain that effort on a good pace-bowler’s wicket at Dunsborough.”

While the Hawks are again on the road tomorrow looking to extend their lead at the top of the table with a match against Dunsborough, the Saints will be hoping for a home ground advantage at Barnard Park in the grand final rematch against YOBS.