Peel Cricket Association: Dal scores 83 as Mandurah upsets Singleton to cement spot in top four

Dal’s third score of 80-plus on the season was the driving force for Mandurah as they protected their wickets to tally 4/218 across their 50 overs, a total they would go on to narrowly defend despite a spirited chase down from the Irwinians.

Being sent into bat first, Mandurah received a healthy opening stand of 65 from Ben Drummond (45) and Jeremy Leatherbarrow (20).

The duo helped the side to a decent position early and Matthew Jenkinson’s 22 maintained the pace.

But it was Dal who powered them to a defendable total, with his game-high knock accounting for a huge chunk of his side’s runs.

Justin Solly chimed in with an unbeaten 32 to round out the innings, leaving Singleton chasing 219 for the win.

Each Irwinians batsman played their role as all but two breached double figures, but none could lift their team the way Dal had for Mandurah.

The visitors gave a strong chase but some regular wicket-taking spearheaded by David Schonberger (3/46) was the spark Mandurah needed to keep them at bay, with Singleton eventually falling one major boundary short of the required total.

Danny Woollard topped the Singleton scorecard with 31 runs, while Tim Hutchison (28), Jeff Yeaple (22), Joseph Senz (27) and Daniel Jones (24) contributed.

The win keeps Mandurah in third place ahead of a South Mandurah side that would have overtaken them should they have lost.

It’s a crucial upset with just two rounds remaining in the season and only a game separating third from fifth on the PCA ladder.

Mandurah’s win over Singleton wasn’t the only upset of the round, as Shoalwater Bay handed Waroona just their second loss of the season on the back of James Stuart’s continued strong form.

Stuart’s half century of 57 topped the scoring for the Seals as they set the tone with a 9/201 total, and he also led their wicket-taking with the figures of 3/35 as they dismissed Waroona on 147 after just 33 overs.

Brandon Burt did his best to see the Warriors on the right path with 66, but strong supporting totals from Seals batsmen Nicholas Milligan (30), Josh Senior (24) and Sebastian Websdale (23) proved the difference as Shoalwater picked up the win.

The victory keeps the Seals’ slim finals hopes alive with two games remaining.

South Mandurah did what they had been threatening to do for weeks in round 16 and moved into the top four with a commanding victory over Baldivis.

The game proved to be a cakewalk for the Falcons who dismantled Baldivis with some extraordinary bowling from Matt Hill (4/10), Jesse Buck (2/0) and Brad Holmes (4/21) keeping the White Knights to a season-low 31 total runs.

Phil Worth top-scored in the chase with 36 as Souths finished on 122.

The victory sees South Mandurah move into the top four for the first time this season, just two games out from finals.

Completing the third upset of the round was Halls Head when a remarkable knock from Alex Dillon was enough to oust Pinjarra from the top four on Saturday.

The opener blazed his way to 120-not out with 14 boundaries (four sixes) to buoy Halls Head to 7/206 from their allotted overs.

The Tigers’ chase was sparked by half centuries to Patrick Gorman (54) and Chris Zadow (59) but they eventually fell short on 9/193.

Pinjarra will need to win their last two games against Shoalwater Bay and Singleton if they are to have any chance of making finals.

The Hornets won the battle of the bottom two when some impressive bowling from Daniel Steinke and a knock of 69 from Jack Green led them to a victory over Warnbro.

Steinke’s spell of 4/18 from 10 overs (six maidens) was a huge factor in restricting Warnbro to 143 runs, despite good form from opener Ben Doudle (47).

Green’s 69 runs, supported by 50 from Mitchell Hind, was enough to power the Hornets to 8/227 and their fourth victory on the season.

Kaine May (3/8) starred with the ball for Warnbro.