WACA Premier Cricket: veteran Joondalup quick keeps pace with competition

Damaging paceman James Boyland took his 500th wicket to end the season against University, before producing one of the best performances of his career with 7-66 in the Centurions’ losing elimination final to Perth.

The figures were not enough to haul his side over the line, but a clear indication he certainly has more to give in the twilight of his career.

Boyland, who is now among the top 30 all-time Premier Cricket wicket-takers, said he would worry about his achievements and milestones later.

“It’s a nice milestone to achieve,” he said of joining the 500 club,” he said. “I suppose you don’t really think about it now. It’ll mean more to me when I get a bit older.”

The fast bowler was coy on his future, but if he did decide to play on, Boyland would likely extend his tenure as the leading games record holder for the Joondalup Districts Cricket Club (formerly North Perth).

“I’ll see how the body goes; I am getting a bit of work done on my arm in the off-season,” he said. “I might be right to go around again.”

Boyland reflected on Joondalup’s first two-day premiership as his career highlight, the quick playing a starring role, taking five wickets and scoring a crucial 59 against a strong Melville outfit in 2012-13.

“The first premiership, the two-day final that we won was the biggest one, when we beat Melville, that was a good day,” he recalled.

The one-club player described Steven Glew, the second top scorer in Premier Cricket history, as one of his great rivals, with the pair clashing for near-on a decade in A-Grade Cricket.

“Glewy from Subiaco Floreat, we used to have some pretty good battles,” he reflected. “He retired last year but we always had a pretty good tussle.”

While the tireless Boyland will most likely leave Premier Cricket quietly, it is hard to deny that anyone on the 500-wicket list is anything other then a true giant of the competition, especially if he bowls fast.