MELVILLE remains unbeaten in Premier Cricket’s one-day competition after a tense 11-run win over Fremantle at Tompkins Park on Saturday.
Mark Turner led a second-innings demolition of Fremantle’s lower order with the hosts removing the final five Port Boys wickets for three runs to ensure the visitors fell short of their 224-run target.
Turner finished with 4-37 while Ryan Duffield was again impressive returning figures of 3-24 and ending the contest by bowling Jarryd McPhee.
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READ NOWFremantle’s Sam Whiteman was in fine touch scoring 60 from just 57 deliveries.
His innings included seven fours and one six.
Chris Davenport also scored a composed half century but when he was removed by Duffield with his side just 15 runs from victory, the match turned in Melville’s favour.
Earlier in the day, Melville jumped on the chance to bat first after winning the toss with skipper Luke Towers and Blake Reed combining for a 52-run opening stand.
Towers was the first to go but Reed’s 47 from 88 and contributions from Matthew Wiley (59 from 66) and Drew Porter (40 from 45) pushed Fremantle’s total to 223 from their 50 overs.
Ross Macauley was the pick of the visiting bowlers finishing with 4-43 and removing Towers and Wiley.
In reply, Fremantle was on the back foot early when Turner bowled promising batsman Jake Carder for nought.
Whiteman and Daniel Kennedy steadied, with starts from Matt Micale (25 from 50), Brayden Sutton (23 from 33) and Anthony Collova (24 from 51) helping the Port Boys towards their target.
But momentum swung in Melville’s favour when Davenport was removed with the win in sight and Fremantle never recovered.
Melville moved to 7-0, while Fremantle is just outside the top four with a 5-2 record.
Melville begins a two-day clash with Gosnells at Sutherlands Park on Saturday.
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