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Combined side cruises to victory

Justin FrisSouth Western Times
BDCA bowler Jacob Wintle was in excellent form for the home side on Sunday at Forrest Park.
Camera IconBDCA bowler Jacob Wintle was in excellent form for the home side on Sunday at Forrest Park. Credit: Justin Fris

The Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association rolled to a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Albany Cricket Association in Sunday’s CCB Belt Up Country Cup clash at Forrest Park.

Set 154 for victory, the hosts faced minimal resistance in chasing down the target and booked their place in the grand final against the WA Invitational XI on November 24 at the WACA.

The visitors surprised some spectators early after winning the toss and electing to bat, however this did not appear to faze the BDCA bowling attack.

Spearheaded by John Richardson and Jacob Wintle, the home side dictated the tempo of the contest early, with both men hitting good areas.

Wintle’s early pressure proved telling, with ACA opener Mitchell Green left bamboozled after being bowled by a quality delivery for nought. At the other end, Coen Marwick dug his heels in and endeavoured to hang around, despite being constantly challenged by Richardson, Wintle and fiery BDCA skipper Clint Hewson.

Steadily perched at 1-18 off six overs, Wintle turned momentum in his side’s favour after enticing Jeremy Wood to nibble at a well-pitched ball.

Waiting behind the stumps was an acrobatic BDCA wicketkeeper Michael Tassone, who dived to his right to gobble up a tidy catch.

Keen to ram home his side’s early dominance, Hewson elected to send in-form marksman Jacob Templeton into the fray and the talented Leschenault Cricket Club product did not let him down.

In one of the most impressive spells seen in the South West to date, Templeton had his rivals in all sorts of bother as his disciplined line ensured Albany duo Nathan Crudeli and Ryan Kinnear both left the middle shell-shocked after being comprehensively bowled.

By now, the visitors appeared down and out, although Warwick Durack (36) and Aidan Dallimore (36 off 102 balls) battled hard in a bid to post a competitive tally.

At 7-92, Dallimore combined late in the innings with tail-ender Aubin Spurr, which ensured the visitors managed to reach a low, but somewhat defendable score of 9-153. Aware a victory could ensure a spot in the grand final, the BDCA charged out full of confidence, with Jono Whitney and Justin Woods putting on 37 for the opening wicket.

Despite the ACA eventually getting a breakthrough through Woods’ dismissal, Whitney remained rock solid at the crease and finished on 86 not out from 99 balls.

Leschenault Cricket Club’s Tom Buchanan also took advantage of his time at the wicket, blasting 41 off 63 balls, including two sixes.

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