UGSCA 2024-25: Towns end Wickepin-Harrismith’s slim hopes, top teams Wandering and Williams record victories

Towns stitched up a finals spot and in the process ended Wickepin-Harrismith’s slim hopes of finishing in the top four after their Upper Great Southern Cricket Association round 11 A-grade clash on Saturday. A dominant seven-wicket win from Towns locked away the top four with two rounds to play, with Wickepin-Harrismith now 10 points behind the fourth-placed Cuballing after the loss at Clayton Road Oval. Towns’ Kade Maley was the star in the result, taking 4-16 and snaring Wickepin-Harrismith top scorer Tyron Miller for 54 runs as the home side were set 169 to chase down. They did so in 25 overs, opening strong with Perrin Quartermaine making 44 to go with 21 from Maley and 27 from James Nicholson before Scott Langford (38no) and Pierre-louis Maas (27no) steered them to victory for the loss of just three wickets. Earlier, despite the best efforts of Miller, Ryan Konzag (40) and Josh Hobley (21), Wickepin-Harrismith were bowled out for 168 in the 45th over. Towns are still a chance to finish in the top two and secure a finals double chance, sitting two points behind the second-placed Williams. Williams recorded a crucial six-wicket win over Cuballing at Williams, to keep hold of second spot. Cuballing won the toss and batted first, only managing to put up a score of 112 as they were all out in 42.5 overs. Williams’ Steven Ford took four wickets, removing both Joe Dowling and Grady Francis for one and then sent Andrew Harris and Michael Moore packing cheaply as well. Julian Crudeli (2-23), Michael Forman (2-36) and Rodney Ford (2-13) took two wickets apiece, the latter taking the key wicket of Cuballing’s Byron Blevin for 32. Williams cruised to victory, as opener Michael Cowcher anchored the innings with 41 not out while Forman added 30. Grady Francis took 3-21 to give Cuballing some hope but Williams passed the target in the 31st over. Top side Wandering made it 10 wins on the trot, taking care of Lake Grace in Wandering. Brayden Reynolds was terrific for the visitors, making 80 from 124 balls with 13 fours but he lacked support as Lake Grace made 163 all out batting first. Wandering’s Bryan Hardie (3-13) and Bailey Parsons (3-32) both took three wickets to give their side a score under 200 to chase. After a solid start from Jacob Schorer (38), Ben Sherry then ripped the game apart with a destructive 86 not out. Sherry hit seven fours and six maximums in his 43-ball innings as Wandering won by seven wickets, needing just 27.1 overs to surpass the total.