Yobs smashed by St Mary‘s

After a slow start, St Mary’s blasted a season-high score of 9-239 to defeat Yobs by 99 runs last Saturday in round six of the Busselton Margaret River Cricket Association A-grade competition.

Batting first on a flat Barnard Turf wicket, the Saints recovered from 2-13, thanks to a 102-run partnership between captain Danny Hatton (68) and Ben Lloyd (44) before Nick Ritchie also smashed a quick-fire 25.

It was a return to form for last year’s House medallist Hatton, who showed his characteristically casual attitude to Yobs’ usually potent bowling attack.

Yobs all-rounder Ethan Piggot finally claimed the wicket of Hatton in his 100th A-grade game.

The pick of the bowlers was Matt Connaughton, who took an expensive 4-51.

In reply, Yobs started well with openers Harvey Golding and Nayton Colombera, reaching 74 without loss before Taylor Chandler claimed Golding for 35.

Hatton then struck again, bowling Colombera for 44, capping off his man-of-the-match performance.

Joe Lowe was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-35 with two maidens. In the other A-grade game, Dunsborough Cricket Club defeated top-of-the-ladder Margaret River Hawks by one run.

The Hawks needed 14 runs from their final four wickets but couldn’t manage the feat with returning Dunsborough fast bowler Shane Edwards claiming 5-29.

Phil Watts was the star with bat for Dunsborough hitting 60 to be the backbone of their innings with a solid cameo from all-rounder Riccardo Small-Boyce (29) helping DCC post 158 off 41.4 overs.

Young Hawks opener Kade Dittmar scored his maiden A-grade half-century in reply with a superb knock of 55 to set the run chase up.

Aaron Thomas (20) and Rumesh Silva (33) both provided strong resistance but when Silva was caught by Small-Boyce off Edwards it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Hawks tail to wag to victory.

When Hawks 200-gamer Peter Crimp was caught and bowled, again by Edwards, it was all over with Dunsborough claiming victory by the narrowest of margins.

This weekend, the Saints will take on the Hawks at Barnard Turf while Dunsborough will host Yobs at Dunsborough Playing Fields.