UGSCA 2023-24: Towns eliminate Cuballing from title race, Wandering down Williams in qualifying final

Towns claimed an elimination final victory in the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade competition after scuttling last season’s premiers Cuballing on Saturday at Clayton Road Oval. Cuballing were sent in to bat by Towns and the visitors were in all sorts of trouble at 4-11 early on after Jacob Wintle ripped through the top order. The visitors had just Joe Dowling (11) reach double figures and five players made ducks as they were skittled for 38 inside 28 overs. Johannes De bruyn (0) was the first to fall removed by Liam Sweeney in the third over and then Wintle snared the key scalps of Andrew Harris (3), Grady Francis (2) and Brock Francis (0). Cuballing never recovered from that point as Sam Ellis ensured his side would chase a very small total. Ellis finished with 5-5 from 7.1 overs to go with Wintle’s 3-8 as Towns were set a lowly 38 to win. After the break Perrin Quartermaine and James Nicholson opened for Towns and Cuballing had a glimmer of hope when Thomas Fleay snared Perrin Quartermaine (one) lbw and then Grady Francis trapped Nicholson in front on seven to leave Towns 2-13 inside four overs. Grady Francis then bowled the dangerous Aaron Quartermaine (12) but with just 11 runs needed to win Nick Corner (8 not out) and Langford (7 not out) chased down the remaining runs to secure a seven-wicket win in just 8.5 overs. In the qualifying final season minor premiers Wandering chased down Williams small total at Wandering to secure their spot in this week’s grand final. The visitors opened with the bat and posted 127 off 43.5 overs but Wandering lost only two wickets in the chase to progress to the decider. Williams had strong top order contributions from Robert Rose (37 from 85 deliveries), Broc Titko (17) and Rodney Ford (26) helped them to 4-102 when Rose was trapped lbw by Bailey Parsons. Wandering dominated from that point on however, as Williams collapsed as they lost 7-25 to be all out under 130. Bailey Parsons (2-31), Lewis Parsons (2-14) and Ben McMillian (2-11) were the multiple wicket takers. Jacob Schorer and Blake Egerton-Warburton opened for Wandering and they made a quick 30 before Egerton-Warburton (10) was bowled by Michael Forman. Sherry joined Jacob Schorer and the pair smashed their way to 118 but Sherry (31) was caught by dismissed by Titko. Schorer however had the chase in hand to finish unbeaten on 71 from 81 balls, including 10 fours, as they secured the eight-wicket victory in 24.5 overs.