Young guns shine in Perth heat for Country Week

BUSSELTON-MARGARET RIVER’S three men’s Country Week cricket teams have battled 43-degree temperatures in Perth this week as they strive to bring home the silverware for the cricket association.

All three teams recorded wins on the opening day on Sunday, and although two of the sides lost on Monday, all three are still in the running to reach this Friday’s finals.

The extreme heat has forced WA Cricket to take emergency measures, with all games reduced from 50 overs to 40 overs per side, and umpires ordered to instruct drinks breaks every 45 minutes.

The No. 1 side, competing in A-Section under Fraser Oates as captain, defeated West Pilbara on Sunday but lost to Geraldton on Monday, while the No. 2 side, competing in D-Section under Chris Reagan’s leadership, has had a perfect start after beating Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Sunday and then Fortescue on Monday.

The No. 3 side, battling away in E-Section under Alistair McIlroy, defeated South Midlands on Sunday before being narrowly beaten by Great Southern on Monday. Yesterday was a rest day for all teams.

Teenage pace bowlers Sean Zahra and Tom Reagan have starred for Busselton-Margaret River in their two rounds thus far.

Zahra, bowling in A-Section, took 2-18 against West Pilbara and then 3-30 against Geraldton, while Reagan has decimated the opposition in D-Section after taking 3-14 against Kalgoorlie-Boulder and a massive 7-30 against Fortescue.

The best batsmen for Busselton-Margaret River in A-Section have been skipper Fraser Oates (74 not out off 63 balls) and Simon Harkness (66 off 69 balls) against West Pilbara, while Brendan Millar in D-Section has scored 30 not out and 41 not out in the team’s two overwhelming victories against Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Fortescue.

In E-Section, Brodie Clively opened the batting on Sunday and batted through the innings to hit an unbeaten 56 as Busselton-Margaret River overtook South Midlands’ total of 7-158 with six overs to spare.

On Monday, skipper Al McIlroy posted an unbeaten 70, while Bailey Ford struck 41 off 33 balls, as Busselton-Margaret River totalled 9-221 off 40 overs in E-Section before being pipped at the post by Great Southern with two wickets and one over to spare.

This is the first time in eight years that Busselton-Margaret River has sent as many as three teams to Country Week, an achievement which has required a huge workload from head selector Neil Langenhoven.

Country Week is also being played this year in coloured clothing and with a white ball for the first time.

“I am grateful to the other selectors Fraser Oates, Chris Reagan and Alistair McIlroy for their assistance, as well as the managers and the scorers – Pieter Bresser and Emma Bresser in A-Section, Martin Weston and Elle Weston in D-Section, and Cassie Cawley and Jono Outred in E-Section,” Langenhoven said.

“With all the work we’ve put in it would be nice to bring home a few trophies for Busselton-Margaret River,” he said.

C-Grade cricket took centre-stage locally on Saturday with A-Grade and B-Grade divisions both having byes due to Country Week.

The closest game was played at Bovell Park and featured excellent sportsmanship where Yallingup-Oddbods mustered 180 all out and then dismissed Dunsborough White for 175 to win by just 5 runs.

Wade Baldisseri (38) and twins James and Will Whiteford (both scoring thirties) led the scoring for YOBS while Henry Marriott (4-19), Darby Tas (53) and Chris Dudley (74) dominated the contributions for Dunsborough White.

YOBS Academy also won their game narrowly with just three balls to spare, overtaking Margaret River Hawks’ total of 8-131 with three wickets in hand.

Manning Smith took three wickets for Hawks while Jordan Lullfitz bagged 5-21 for YOBS Academy.

Cowaramup (133) were too strong for Nannup (67 all out), despite Nannup skipper Lachlan Smith also taking five wickets for his team, while Dunsborough Blue (8-202, with skipper Cameron Morris hitting 43 runs) defeated Vasse in the remaining game.