Peel cricket: Mandurah slip to first 2018 defeat as Baldivis moves to top spot

Mandurah sat proudly on top of the ladder prior to the weekend action courtesy of a flawless ten-match winning streak, but Baldivis leapfrogged them with a comprehensive victory.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first, with opener Wesley Steele the standout with an excellent 89 – his highest return for the campaign.

He was well-supported by Greg Roos (57 not out), Cameron Reyne (42) and Eric Botha (36), as Baldivis finished their 50 overs with a healthy return of 5/246.

Sach In was the pick of the Mandurah bowlers, accounting for the wickets of both of Baldivis’ openers in a 2/37 performance.

Mandurah’s run chase started disastrously when opener Ian Lattimore was dismissed for just six runs, with Ben Drummond’s well-worked 35 the most defiance his side could muster.

In recorded 29 runs but once he was ousted Mandurah’s middle order collapsed and they were all out for 133 in the 39^th over.

Ben Sharp led the Baldivis attack with 4/30 and was well supported by Peter Russell’s 3/12.

The result means the Peel Cricket Association’s top two switch places – Mandurah will be keen to make amends when they return to action against defending champions Waroona on January 5.

The champions are building a head of steam and showed their intention to retain their crown on Saturday, with third-place Waroona accounting for fourth-placed Pinjarra.

The visitors won the toss and elected to put Waroona in to bat – a ploy that initially paid dividends as opener Jayden Derosa fell for just seven runs.

However, Brandon Burt’s impressive 80-run haul from fifth in the batting order led Waroona to a 206-run tally from their 50 overs.

In reply, Pinjarra looked to keep the scoreboard ticking over but fell victim to Mitchell Smith’s 3/29.

The visitors were given hope when Luke Gorman put together 58 runs in the middle order, but his dismissal led to Pinjarra’s demise as they were bowled out for 181 in the 42^nd over.

Halls Head recorded a morale-boosting victory over Shoalwater Bay, largely thanks to an undefeated 89 runs from opener Levi Muller.

The Rockingham outfit won the toss and elected to bat first, amassing a total of 8/172.

However, Muller smashed his way to 89 runs from 113 balls and was still at the crease when Halls Head reached the required 4/173 in the 38^th over.

South Mandurah picked up just their second win of the season by recording a plucky victory against Warnbro Swans at Currie Street Reserve.

The away side batted first but were dismissed in 37 overs for a total of 165 runs – Michael Holmes top-scored with an admirable 46.

Warnbro looked well on course to record victory after their opening three batsmen hit a combined 70 runs, with Charl Nieuwenhuis the pick of the bunch on 39.

However, an excellent five-wicket haul from South Mandurah’s Corey Tregenza decimated the Warnbro middle order and resulted in the home side being all out for 98 in the 43^rd over.

Finally, Singleton Irwinians stuck on the coattails of the top four with a big win over bottom side Hillman at Stan Twight Reserve.

The hosts batted first after winning the toss and were powered to a 8/252 tally by the prowess of Mitchell Shellam (68), Joseph Senz (55 not out) and Timothy Hutchison (54).

In reply, Hillman showed defiance when Jack Green (62) and Steven Erceg (51) started hitting the boundaries, but their respective dismissals ended the visitors’ hopes – they were all out for 169 in the 48^th over.