Colts take sting out of Redbacks

Colts’ bid to retain the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association premiership received a boost, leapfrogging Leschenault into second place after Saturday’s five-wicket victory over Hay Park at the Bunbury Recreation Ground.

It was an early afternoon for both sides in a low scoring game, with Redbacks skipper Jono Whitney winning the toss and electing to bat — with his side dismissed for 96 off 42.4 overs.

Only two Hay Park Redbacks batsmen, club president Steve Florance (38) and Whitney (39), reached double figures as the Colts attack smashed through their defences.

Colts captain Cruize Ciallella’s spearheaded his side’s strong bowling attack, sharing identical figures of 3-19 with Ethan Kelly.

Jake Boyle and Josh Topliss started the ball rolling for Colts with the scalps of Redbacks openers Fraser Thompson and Graham Yates, followed by the wicket of Michael Tassone.

Whitney and Florance came to the rescue with a 56-run partnership but when medium pacer Ethan Kelly removed Whitney, the remaining Redbacks wickets fell for a modest 16 runs.

Chasing 97 for victory, Reon Tither ripped through Jayden Goodwin early in the innings, before Fraser Hislop and Tim Stewart added 30 runs to steady the ship.

Murray Goodwin came in following Hislop’s departure and made a brief 33 off 27 balls before retiring hurt with a niggling hamstring strain.

The last few overs were safely negotiated by Colts who hauled in the Redbacks’ tally on the final ball of the 16th over.

Dalyellup Beach squandered a bright opening in Saturday’s four-wicket loss to Marist at Forrest Park North.

Sitting pretty at 1-53, the visitors drowned in a flood of Blues wickets, with skipper Paul Jones ensuring they limped to 136 all-out off 49.3 overs.

Spearhead Alan Utterson (2-23) change bowler Jordan Stynes (3-20) Ben Shipley (2-5 off six overs) and Brayden Clarke (2-36) laid the visitors open after Utterson pulled the plug with the wicket of opener Dan Lomax.

Chasing 136 for victory, several Blues players made starts alongside skipper Reece O’Connell (62 off 103 balls).

O’Connell joined Beavers’ skipper Clint Hewson as the only half century maker of the round as his side moved away from the bottom.