A stringent bowling attack and a class partnership between Danny Woollard and Bryce Evans buoyed the Singelton Irwinians to a victory over Halls Head in their first match of the season on Saturday.
After a pair of washouts the sun finally shone on the Peel Cricket Association, with Singleton taking full advantage.
Winning the toss and electing to field first, the Singleton bowlers were relentless in their attack on Halls Head’s top order.
Openers Alex Dillon and Reid Klopped fell for just four and five runs respectively, while third in the order Michael Chappell was dismissed for a duck.
Joel Evans worked hard to piece together something that resembled a respectable total with 23 runs, but the Singleton attack continued.
Halls Head’s tail order put up a resistence, but despite strong knocks from Grant Matthews (20), Cameron Lucas (18) and Scott Martin (24), the team still managed just 143 runs.
Chris Loveridge led the charge for the Singleton bowlers, finishing with 3/33 from 10 overs, which included three maidens.
Chasing 144 to win, Singleton’s hunt for the total was off to a healthy start with a partnership of 30 between openers Woollard and Andrew Peckover.
Peckover’s dismissal at the hands of Matt Gordon saw Evans arrive at the crease, who teamed with Woollard to put Singleton firmly in control of the game.
Woollard finished with 42 runs while Evans chipped in for 37, giving Singleton the advantage despite a middle order collapse.
The total was easily chased down, allowing the Singleton tail order to bat out their overs without pressure. Ian Bowes put up a team high 44 runs, while Jay Boyd (25) and Loveridge (18) contributed.
Singleton finished the game with a score of 7/208, good enough to put them in third spot on the ladder.
Waroona defeat Mandurah
Waroona claimed fourth spot on the ladder with a nail-biting win over Mandurah at Meadow Springs on Saturday.
An even contribution from a number of batsmen saw Waroona chase down Mandurah’s total of 203 with little time remaining in the match.
Batting first, Mandurah found rhythm in the middle order. The late charge saw them post the score of 8/203 after 50 overs.
Matt Jenkinson top-scored for the game with 69 runs.
But Mandurah was unable to hold on as Waroona took up the bat hunting a first win of the season.
Their spread of run-scorers gave them an edge, with Sach In (not Tendulkar) leading the way with 40 runs.
They were able to chase down the total and finish with 9/210 after their 50 overs.
White Knights Baldivis defeat South Mandurah
A blistering performance from Baldivis opener Cameron Reyne secured a victory for the White Knights in their clash with South Mandurah in round three.
Reyne terrorised the South Mandurah bowling order, blasting his way to the season’s first century with a knock of 114.
Baldivis was sent into bat after losing the toss, and looked shaky after losing Wesley Steele and Haydn Cahir early.
Sitting in a 2/17 hole, Hayden Lynn (48) joined Reyne at the crease and together they carved out a 146-run partnership.
Their prodigious display made up for a middle-order collapse, as Baldivis finished their innings with 263 runs.
Jesse Buck’s 66 runs was the only impressive feat for South Mandurah’s batsmen, as they were dismissed on 172 runs.
Baldivis sits atop the ladder after the win.
Pinjarra defeat Warnrbo Swans
Immaculate bowling performances from Allan Willey and Joseph Slade set Pinjarra up for a comfortable win over Warnbro on Saturday.
The Swans won the toss and chose to bat first, but were heavily restricted by Pinjarra’s bowling line-up.
Ben Doudle, Mitchell Cowan and Kane Standing were sent back to the pavilion early, as Warnbro found themselves in a dire 3/5 hole.
The middle order, particularly Jake Cassidy (42), tried hard to put up runs, but fell short of a competitive total finishing the innings on 9/136.
Willey was destructive in his six overs bowling, taking three wickets at the cost of just five runs and recording four maidens. Slade ended the match with the figures of 4/22 from 10 overs.
Shoalwater Bay defeat Hillman
A half century to Graham Spinks and a five wicket haul for Mitchell Smith elevated Shoalwater Bay to second on the PCA ladder with a win over Hillman in round three.
Choosing to bat first, Sean Hetel saw Shoalwater Bay to a strong start with 46 runs. Nicholas Milligan (28), Smith (23) and Mitchell Anderson (30) all contributed before Spinks arrived at the crease to carve out 53.
The side finished its innings with the score 212 runs on the board, and defended it with relative ease.
The Hillman top order was impressive, with Trent Goodrick (22), Mick McCurrach (25) and Craig Timbrell (34) notching solid totals.
But the contributions fell away at the end, as Smith cleaned up the batsmen to finish with five wickets, allowing Hillman to finish with just 156 runs.