The Rockingham-Mandurah Cricket Club slumped to 15th place on the first grade WACA table after suffering their third straight defeat to start the season.
A hefty partnership between Tyler Robertson and Aaron Burrage brought the Mariners back from what looked like total annihilation, but it was not enough to take out the side’s first victory.
The Mariners began with a shocking start after being sent into bat. Mitch Green, Dane Ugle and Craig Simmons were all sent back for less than five runs, leaving Rockingham-Mandurah in a 3/8 hole.
Fortunately, Robertson (42) and Burrage (31) teamed up for an 83-run stand to breath life into the Mariners’ fight.
Damien Burrage followed with 30 runs of his own, while Kieran Bull pitched in with 25.
The tail order was knocked over relatively easily, as the Mariners posted the score of 173.
Gosnells’ Chris Prescott was a force with the ball in hand, picking up three wickets at the cost of just 20 runs in 10 overs.
His efforts were matched with the blade by Jonathon Crowe, who carved out 88 runs for the victors.
Crowe’s prodigious knock led the charge for Gosnells, who chased down the Mariners’ total in 45 overs.
Rockingham-Mandurah will continue to search for their first win when they take on top-of-the-table Fremantle at Lark Hill on Saturday.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
