Ritchie’s runs not enough for Saints

Rags-to-riches Dunsborough Cricket Club claimed a captivating three-run win over St Mary’s on Saturday just a week after losing by two runs to Yobs.

St Mary’s were crucially docked an over for a slow over rate in the nailbiting Busselton Margaret River Cricket Association A-grade match.

Batting first, DCC had an even contribution from their deep batting line-up.

Opener Aaron Mott top-scored with 47 but was run out by Dylan Tomlinson just shy of his half-century.

Ryan Martin, batting at No.8 for Dunsborough, was again a stand-out, scoring 40 not out to help DCC post a healthy total of 207.

Englishman Joe Lowe was the pick of the Saints bowlers with 4-31 including a maiden over.

In reply St Mary’s got off to a disastrous start and were 6-37 before drinks.

It looked like a capitulation was on the cards for the Saints but former DCC captain Nick Ritchie had other ideas.

Ritchie held his wicket stubbornly and combined with young all-rounder Taylor Chandler for a remarkable 142-run partnership.

When Chandler was trapped lbw by current DCC captain Ian Purcell it looked as if Dunsborough were safe but Ritchie continued to pile on the runs in Marc Ford’s 300th game.

Six runs short of a century, Ritchie ran out of deliveries just four runs shy of a miraculous triumph.

In the other A-grade fixture the Margaret River Hawks firmed as premiership favourites with a seven wicket win over Yobs after batting just 13 overs.

Yobs were missing dynamic duo Nayt and Haig Colombera and were rolled by the well-captained Hawks for 67 in the 40th over.

Tait Spowart offered some resistance for Yobs with 36 much-needed runs but the story was Margaret River bowler Aaron Thomas who took 4-13 with six maidens from his 10 overs.

In an incredible display of precision bowling Thomas didn’t leak a single sundry inspiring the Hawks to their best performance of the season.

Grant Garstone continued his solid form for the Hawks with an unbeaten 25 in a 36-run partnership with new Sri Lankan import Charitha Jayampathi.

This week the Hawks will look to cement top spot against Yobs at their home ground, Gloucester Park, while the Saints will be out for revenge against Dunsborough at Barnard Park.