Quicks skittle Hawks
An accurate bowling performance from star Yobs paceman Neil Langenhoven saw Yobs dominate Margaret River in a top-of-the-table A-grade match on Saturday.
Yobs overtook the Hawks atop the Busselton Margaret River Cricket Association ladder with a commanding six-wicket win.
The potential grand final preview was the perfect setting for Langenhoven to take his 500th A-grade wicket on his way to man-of-the-match figures of 4-23 off eight overs with three maidens.
The Hawks batsmen never looked confident against the speedy Yobs attack of Langenhoven, Haig Colombera and Matthew Connaughton.
Margaret River opener Rumesh Silva top scored for the Hawks with just 13 as Colombera ripped through the top order claiming 3-31.
Connaughton then cleaned up the tail with astounding figures of 3-7 off just 3.5 overs to skittle the Hawks for a feeble 71, including 25 sundries.
In reply Yobs made hard work of their short run chase. losing four wickets of their own due to the Hawks’ trademark tight fielding.
Opener Harvey Golding made an elegant start for yobs with some beautiful strokes before he was caught at mid-on by a spectacular diving effort from Hawks import Charitha Jayampathi.
First drop David Macleay (21), finished the job after just 18 overs guiding Yobs to victory with a boundary providing some revenge for Yobs who were rolled by the Hawks twice in December after making meagre first-innings totals in both matches.
Meanwhile at Dunsborough Playing Fields veteran Ian Purcell masterminded a miraculous comeback victory for the home team over reigning premiers St Mary’s.
The Dunsborough captain strode to the crease with his team reeling at 5-61 but showed every ounce of his experience and class to orchestrate an unlikely victory and give Dunsborough some breathing space in the race for the finals.
After showing some brief mid-season form St Mary’s are languishing in last place, two wins below Dunsborough with star all-rounder Danny Hatton set to miss six weeks with a torn calf.
With six rounds before finals Saints will look to former president Jono Lloyd to provide some leadership and doggedness for his underperforming team whose premiership defence is hanging by a thread.
This week BMRCA representatives will travel to Perth to compete in the WA Country Cricket tournament with a bye for regular competitions.
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