South Mandurah has continued its sterling form in the A-grade competition with a thrilling upset victory over second-placed Singleton Irwinians that has put the Falcons back within striking distance of the top four.
South Mandurah won the toss and sent Singleton in to bat at Stan Twight Reserve, striking early to claim opener Danny Woollard for a duck.
It was only some quality batting from in-form opener Tim Hutchison (60) that prevented a bigger disaster for the Irwinians, for whom eight batsmen failed to reach double figures.
Hutchison was well supported for a time by Mitchell Shellam (21) and Joseph Senz (20), but when the opener fell with the score at 114, Singleton’s innings fell apart and they were eventually all out for 127.
For the Falcons, Jesse Buck was the wrecker, with 4/25 from his 10 overs, while Matt Hill and Clint Hutchinson claimed three wickets apiece. In reply, South Mandurah fared little better, losing wickets on a regular basis.
Batting at number three, Hill managed to compile 27 runs before he was trapped LBW with the score at 68. Buck scored 16 and Brad Holmes 26, and the Falcons looked headed for victory when the score was 6/118.
But a late collapse saw the visitors lose three wickets for just two runs, before the 10th wicket pairing of Reece Scarlett and Hutchinson guided them home. They were eventually all out for 129 after 40 overs.
Ian Bowes was the standout bowler for Irwinians, claiming 3/26.
Mandurah defeated by White Knights Baldivis
A 56-run seventh-wicket partnership between Peter Giallombardo and Mitch Brown proved the difference for White Knights Baldivis as they defeated Mandurah to also stake a claim for a finals berth.
Mandurah skipper Matthew Jenkinson would have been pleased with his decision to send the visitors in to bat when his bowlers had the White Knights reeling at 5/47.
But Giallombardo and Brown knuckled down and added some respectability to the scoreboard, pushing the total along to 103 before Giallombardo (31) was clean bowled by Gehan Fernando.
The tail then stuck around to help Brown (33no) continue the rearguard action, with White Knights eventually all out for a competitive 133. Jenkinson was best of the bowlers, snaring three wickets.
Mandurah’s chase started reasonably well. But it didn’t go well through the middle of the innings. Nor at the end. They were eventually all out for just 89, with only Paul Okey (20) providing any real resistance.
Shoalwater Bay defeated by Hillman Hornets
In the other match at Stan Twight Reserve, ninth-placed Hillman Hornets easily chased down Shoalwater Bay to record just their second victory of the season.
Batting first, Shoalwater was dismissed for 130, with several batsmen getting a start but being unable to post a big score.
Captain and opener Sean Hetel was the best performer, amassing 25 runs before he was caught off the bowling of Wayne Hasson. Graham Spinks also managed 21 in the middle order.
Hillman openers Jack Green (44) and Daniel Steinke (35) soon put paid to the Seals’ hopes, however, while Wes Steel (41) and Rhys Carr (42) put the issue beyond doubt. The Hornets finished at 8/199 after 48 overs.
Warnbro Swans defeated Halls Head
Warnbro finally broke through for its first victory of the 2017-18 season on the back of Dane Ugle’s outstanding 92 runs against Halls Head.
Ugle, who scored 134 against Mandurah in his only other innings for the Swans this season, was unstoppable as he belted the Halls Head bowlers for a total of 14 boundaries, including two sixes.
He was well supported at the top of the order by Ben Hinson (34) and in the middle order by Charl Nieuwenhuis (21) and Mitchell Cowan (20), as Warnbro posted a total of 8/206 in 40 overs. Chris Phelps was the best of the Halls Head bowlers, taking 4/43.
Halls Head was not without its chances, though, and things look good when Sam Pendlebury compiled 54 runs in the middle of the innings.
Dustin Robinson’s 33 runs made things even more interesting, but the visitors eventually fell short of the target when they were all out for 172. Kaine May was the key for Warnrbo, taking 4/21 from just four overs.
Waroona defeated Pinjarra
In the final game of the round, ladders leaders Waroona easily accounted for Pinjarra, with both Keren Ugle (57) and Mitchell Smith (60) scoring half centuries.
Pinjarra captain Joseph Slade elected to bat first, despite last week’s poor showing with the bat against Singleton.
And he had in-form batsman Chris Zadow (31) to thank for his side’s total of 126, with a miserly Smith taking 4/14 from eight overs.
The visitors were cock-a-hoop when they had Waroona struggling at 4/11 early in the innings, only for Ugle and Nic Rep to put on 97 runs for the fifth wicket.
Smith then joined Rep at the crease and saw Waroona to victory, the home side coasting to a total of 212 and cementing their spot at the top of the ladder.
