Senior country week: Good form in pool matches could bode well for another BDCA grand final appearance

The Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association appeared on course for a favourable A-section semifinal match-up late on Wednesday afternoon at the Alcohol Think Again Senior Country Week Championships in Perth.

Convincing A-section champions over Peel last year on the WACA Ground’s hallowed turf, the BDCA’s 1st XI were undefeated heading into their final pool clash against Upper Great Southern at Breckler Park.

On the back of brilliant spells from Eaton Cricket Club seamer Liam Renton (3-16 off 10 overs) and Leschenault spinner Shehzad Gondal (4-40 off 19 overs, five maidens), Upper Great Southern were dismissed for 127 off 54.3 overs.

Victory in this game would put the BDCA in a brilliant position heading into the penultimate stage of the tournament, given the crossover nature of all semifinals.

Albany’s 1st XI — a side tipped to square off against the BDCA in a potential mouthwatering decider on Friday at WA’s home of cricket — were not entirely having things their own way against a plucky Geraldton outfit in their final group outing, due to some excellent pressure from young Mid West seamer Gerard “Ringo” McKenna.

The BDCA’s 2nd XI were also on course to defeat an in-form Eastern Goldfields side, after a brilliant team effort from the Blue Swans skittled them for 83.

In B-section, Warren-Blackwood headed into their final pool clash against Newman at Gwynne Park with a fierce determination to finish with a winning record, after copping a heavy defeat against West Pilbara on Monday.

After rolling Newman for 96, the WBCA fell in a hole early during their run chase, slumping to 3-22 in the 10th over.

Country week sport in WA is always full of feel-good stories and this week has been no different. The latest example of this is tireless BDCA administrator Jason Reid, who notched up his 100th country week appearance on Monday, representing the BDCA 4th XI.