GOSNELLS
It is anybody’s game after the opening day of Gosnells’ two-day match against Midland-Guildford.
After winning the toss and sending its opponents into bat, Gosnells was on target early, taking four quick wickets to have Midland-Guildford languishing at 4-47.
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READ NOWIt took a mammoth effort from Midland-Guildford’s middle order to pull them out of trouble, including a 151-run stand from Jordan Mast.
They were eventually bowled out for 280.
Gosnells’ Jaxom Rose was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-74.
Gosnells was able to get a few batting overs in before stumps, with openers Timothy Hale (14 not out) and Ben Green (27 not out) helping Gosnells to 0-44 at the close of day’s play.
The game continues with Gosnells’ innings from 11.40am December 16 at Lilac Hill.
THORNLIE
All four Thornlie Cricket Club teams celebrated victories for the second time this season in the South Metropolitan Cricket Association.
The fourth grade side travelled to second placed Kardinya Lakes in what promised to be a difficult encounter, and were asked to bowl.
The bowlers started brightly and were efficient and prolific, dismissing their opponents for 160 in the 49th over.
Jed Walker was outstanding, taking 5-37 off 11 overs (including four maidens) and was well backed up by Guy Hoskin (2-24).
The Lions faced 20 overs before stumps and lost Aubz Labrooy for a duck and Dwayne Morrison for 37 to finish at 2-58.
They dug in on the second day and showed resolve to reach 225, their highest score of the season, partly thanks to Tyson Armstrong’s 92.
One Day A hosted Armadale and after batting first, reached 3-249 from their allotted overs.
Glen Moore’s unbeaten 95 steered them on the right path, and he was ably supported by Neil Mullally’s 81, before Mullally took 3-37 from 8 overs in the run chase to help dismiss Armadale for 163.
The One Day D side had a tough ask hosting an undefeated South Bertram and looked in trouble when they lost three wickets in one over to be 3-48.
However, the Lions rebounded and finished at a respectable 153 in the 39 over, helped by Dave Kleyweg’s 40.
The visitors were cruising at 2-104 after 20 overs and looked to be on their way to victory, but Gary Stevens (4-25) and Mitch Cannon (4-32) had other ideas.
Matt Marshall took four great catches as the pair ripped through the middle order and before South Bertram knew it, they were all out for 133, including five ducks.
The One Day F side was sent in to bat by Phoenix and dominated from the onset, reaching 2-226 off its 35 overs.
Captain Calvin Ridley’s unbeaten 102 was the highlight, but he was ably supported by Mike Irwin (37) and Mark Scott (retired on 29).
The Lions maintained the pressure with the ball and restricted the home side to 8-142 from the 35 overs, highlighted by Irwin’s 2-21 and Josh Fox’s 2-4 from three overs.
ARMADALE
It was a disappointing round of results for Armadale Cricket Club in their South Metropolitan Cricket Association games.
The first grade team endured a tough time in day 2 of their meeting with Phoenix, chasing 260 for victory.
Despite a bright start from Rylan Arms (26), Armadale lost 8-46 to be 8-68 before Chad Forsyth’s unbeaten 39 saved its blushes by pushing the total to 103 before the side was dismissed.
Phoenix forced Armadale to bat again and Armadale fared a lot better the second time around to reach 3-168.
Jordan Armstrong top scored with a fine 64 and Jeff Petrie hit a tidy 41 not out.
Third grade had a very similar day, dismissed for 142 chasing 253 against their Phoenix counterparts.
A poor top-order performance meant Ainsley Noronha top scored with 22 not out batting at number 11, while Paul Edwards chipped in with 19 at number 9 as the two put on 40 runs for the last wicket.
Armadale was once again forced to follow on and fared much better the second time around, finishing 0-140.
Noronha and Edwards backed up and continued their solid form as the pair finished unbeaten on 60 and 77 respectively.
The sixth grade side went down to Cockburn, needing 212 for victory after day 1, with Mick Wise’s 72 the brightest performance on an otherwise disappointing day, as they were bowled out for 115.
One Day A took on Thornlie who batted first and amassed 3-249, despite Stacey Barrett’s (2-59) best efforts, including his 400th club wicket, an achievement which placed him in the top 10 of the all-time wicket takers for the club.
In response, Calvin D’Sylva took the attack to the bowlers with a fine 61 at the top of the order, but other than Raebern D’Sylva (24), no one else made more than 14 as Armadale was bowled out for 163.
SERPENTINE JARRAHDALE BLUES
Two thrilling victories highlighted a weekend of closely-fought contests for Serpentine Jarrahdale Blues in the South Metropolitan Cricket Association.
The first grade side fell short of a superb comeback victory in its two-day game against Leeming Spartans despite some inspired batting from opener Josh Murphy.
Chasing 286 for victory, Murphy led the charge, but found himself with ever-changing batting partners as the Spartans’ bowling attack proved lethal.
Murphy eventually reached 104, but only Sam Merema (29) and Kane Hockin (26) were able to stick around for a prolonged period and the Blues fell 69 runs short of victory.
An Aaron Butler-inspired 1C side enjoyed a memorable one-run victory over Maddington after a nail-biting final wicket stand by the Blues.
Maddington batted first and looked down and out at 6-84, before it recovered to finish 8-178 from its 40 overs despite some good bowling from Gurpreet Bassran (2-10) and Pardeep Singh (2-38).
However, the run chase did not go as planned, as the Blues crumbled to 5-40 early, before Butler put the team on his shoulders to keep their hopes alive.
Butler continued to lose batting partners and defeat looked a certainty when they fell to 9-134, but he refused to give in and his 109, including 40 for the last wicket, proved to be enough for a miraculous victory.
Meanwhile, the third grade side fell agonisingly short of a successful run chase against Leeming at John Connell Reserve.
Chasing 163, Liam Davidson put the visitors in command with 64, aided by support from Brad Chalmers (32) and Dave Babich (32).
However, after reaching 6-141, the Blues collapsed and were all out for 149 to hand the win to Leeming.
Defending a modest total of 165 at Mundijong Oval, the sixth grade side knew they had it all to do in their top-of-the-table clash with Riverton-Rostrata.
It looked all over when the visitors reached 3-141, but Bryce Shersby (3-51) and Sean Drysdale (4-43) had other ideas.
The pair combined to take five of the final six wickets as Riverton-Rostrata collapsed to finish four runs short of a victory which previously looked certain.
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