Top of the table clash headlines start to 2024 first grade fixtures

Colts will take on Leschenault in a battle between the top two sides to begin round 11 as BDCA Senior Men’s first grade cricket makes a return for 2024. The first placed Colts side will look to take their eighth consecutive win when they face against Leschenault on Saturday 6 January at the Bunbury Recreation Oval. The last time the two sides met, Colts won the game by 107 runs thanks to an impressive century by opener Caillin Blackwood and a five-wicket haul for Morgan Baxter in which he cleaned through the middle order to secure the win. Leschenault, Dalyellup and Marist all sit on six wins and four bonus points but Leschenault hold second spot thanks to their superior percentage and quotient. Dalyellup are also coming off the back of a strong six-wicket win over bottom of the table Collie despite losing both openers for a total of one run in the run chase. Keagan Lynch’s unbeaten 25 runs steadied the ship as he scored the winning run to chase down 88. Collie will be looking for their first win since round one against Eaton Bobtails, the latter’s only win was at the expense of Collie in round four. On that occasion Eaton cruised to a 96-run win thanks to a middle order collapse of six wickets for just 13 runs as Jamie Martin and Sheldon Johnson ran riot with four wickets apiece. This time the sides will meet at Roche Park. Hay Park will have to wait a little while longer to start their new year off as they have a bye. The Men’s first grade T20 competition will kick off on Sunday 7 January with six teams vying for glory. Marist will travel to Harvey to begin their title defence against Harvey-Benger. Eaton will host Dalyellup at the Eaton Sports Ground while Hay Park face Leschenault at Hay Park to round out the morning fixtures. In the afternoon, Marist will go to Eaton as the two sides have a chance to settle the score in a replay of last year’s grand final. Hay Park will remain at home to play Dalyellup and Leschenault will host Harvey-Benger to round out the weekend’s fixtures.