Waroona made sure they will finish the Peel Cricket Association’s home-and-away season on top of the ladder when a 173-run partnership between batsmen Ben Wright and Nic Rep led the side to a win over Singleton on Saturday.
The duo’s magnificent stand helped the Warriors spark a run and make up a healthy total, despite no other batsman breaching into double figure scoring.
The ladder leaders were languishing in a 3/31 hole when the pair combined in the middle, but quick runs were exactly what the doctor ordered.
Rep constantly skied the ball through the air, smashing nine sixes on his way to an 89-run total while Wright found his runs on the ground with 12 fours leading him to 90.
The end of their partnership came when Wright was stumped, but it had done enough to push the side past the 200-run mark and into a strong position.
Singleton’s Jacob Brownley was able to keep his bowling figures tight despite the pair’s onslaught, snagging 3/19 as Waroona ended their innings 6/242.
The Irwinians’ chase was off to a healthy start when Danny Woollard (43) and Tim Hutchison (28) produced strong scores, but a small collapse followed by some regular wickets saw Singleton fall short when they were all out on 187.
Daniel Abel led the way in Waroona’s wicket taking, claiming 3/43.
The victory assures Waroona top spot heading into the finals, with just one round left in the regular season.
Singleton are now also destined to wrap up the campaign in second, meaning the two sides will meet in the first week of finals.
Shoalwater Bay defeat Pinjarra
The Tigers’ hopes of making finals for the first time since the 2014/15 season came to an end when a Sebastian Websdale century gave Shoalwater what they needed to claim victory in round 17.
A whopping 84 of Websdale’s total 108 runs came from the boundary line (six fours, 10 sixes), as he powered the Seals to a 197 total before they were all out with just one ball remaining in the innings.
Pinjarra gave chase through several batsmen, with Jamie Lee (23), Jacob Gittos (20), Jake Foley (26), Kim Eddy (32) and Craig Jones (25) all contributing, but it wasn’t enough to keep their sides finals aspirations alive.
Pinjarra will play Singleton in the final game of their season in round 18.
South Mandurah defeat Halls Head
South Mandurah’s cracking run of form continued on Saturday when a win over Halls Head secured their spot in the finals despite starting the season with four straight losses.
Jesse Buck had a day out with the ball taking 5/25 from his 10-over spell, which included five maidens, as he helped restrict Halls Head to just 115 runs despite opener Levi Muller’s knock of 76.
The Falcons chased it with ease as Matt Hill’s 87 led the way supported by Liam Kerr (45), Brad Holmes (43), Nick Scholl (43) and Buck (25).
The win is South Mandurah’s 11th over the past 13 games, and cements them as a finals team.
Baldivis defeat Hillman
An outstanding bowling spell from Stefan Botha teamed with consistent batting across the board led the White Knights past Hillman on Saturday.
Led by Agron Verzivoli’s 47 and supported by a several healthy contributions, Baldivis was able to tally 8/246 from their overs, which they defended thanks in large to Botha’s efficiency with the ball.
His figures of 5/20 coming off a 10-over spell spearheaded the attack, as the White Knights kept Hillman’s chase to a mere 77 runs.
Hillman will look to finish their season on a high with a win over Halls Head in round 18.
Mandurah defeat Warnbro
Jeremy Leatherbarrow smashed his way to 155 runs to help Mandurah cling to third spot with a win over Warnbro.
The opener led a Mandurah batting order that wreaked havoc on Warnbro’s bowling attack, with his 155 taking the limelight next to 74 from Anuj Dal and 54 from Dylan Smith as their side tallied 7/349.
The chase was always going to be an uphill battle for the bottom-placed Swans, but it was made insurmountable when Mandurah’s Ian Lattimore destroyed their line-up taking 6/15 from 9.1 overs.
Mandurah remains in third, ahead of South Mandurah on points.