Singleton batsman Tim Hutchison led the WA Invitational XI to a Country Cup victory with a century in their grand final against the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association (BDCA) on Sunday.
The Peel Cricket Association star – and captain of the WA side at the carnival – pieced together a mighty knock of 107 from 143 deliveries to buoy his team to a healthy total before conjuring three wickets to dismiss Bunbury in their chase and extract revenge on the outfit that beat them in the round-robin clashes.
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Hutchison opened with a resounding set of shots spurring the invitational squad to a hot start.
Teaming with fellow opener Perrin Quatermaine (37), the duo put together a 59-run stand before the WA side lost three quick wickets to have them teetering on the edge at 3/68.
But the arrival of Rodney Ford (47 off 71) to the crease put the innings back on track as he paired with Hutchison for a 107-run partnership.
Jay Collard blasted out a quick 26 runs off 20 balls to put the final touches on WA’s 6/250 score.
Bunbury looked to reply early in the innings but Waroona bowler Dan Abel struck first for the invitationals, dismissing opener Reece O'Connell to leave the chasers at 1/28.
With the BDCA sitting in a 4/53 hole, Eaton’s Chris Marrow put together a team-high knock of 65 in an attempt to will his side back to contention.
But three-wicket hauls to Hutchison and Adam France proved too much for Bunbury to overcome as the WA Invitational XI took home the Country Cup.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
