UGSCA 2024-25: Wandering still unbeaten after high-scoring affair, Corner returns to secure Towns finals berth

Wandering remain unbeaten and on top of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade after prevailing in a high-scoring affair against Cuballing on Saturday. Towns secured a finals spot with a crushing win over Lake Grace, while Williams survived some nervy moments to down Wickepin-Harrismith in the other round 10 matches. Magnificent scores from Ben Sherry and Ben McMillan powered Wandering to a big score batting first, as they went on to win by 32 runs at Wandering. Sherry fell just short of a century, eventually dismissed for 97 from just 63 balls after belting 17 boundaries in a swashbuckling innings. McMillan was also terrific, cracking 80 from 111 balls with 10 boundaries, and shared in a 105-run stand with Sherry. Wandering finished at 8-254 from their 45 overs. Michael Moore was the pick of the Cuballing bowlers, snaring 3-46 from his 10 overs. A 66-run opening stand from Byron Blevin (34) and Joe Dowling (32) got Cuballing off to a strong start in the chase. McMillan and Sherry then played their part with the ball, removing that pair respectively. Kendal Ballard smashed 74 from 71 balls, with six fours and four sixes, and got some middle-order support via Johannes De bruyn (28) as the visitors closed in on 200. Bailey and Lewis Parsons put the brakes on the run-scoring however, as Cuballing made 7-222 in reply. McMillan (2-47), Lewis Parsons (2-44), and Bailey Parsons (2-43) all took multiple wickets as Wandering made it nine straight wins this season. Towns emerged seven-wicket winners at Clayton Road Oval, with the result sealing a top-four spot with three rounds to play. Craig Shaw made an unbeaten 60 to lead Lake Grace to 8-194 in their 45 overs after batting first. As their club celebrated a premiership reunion on the day, Towns chased down the total with more than five overs to spare. Nick Corner was the difference, his 82 not out lifting Towns to victory. Corner hit 12 fours in his knock, while Aaron McAuliffe added 59 not out to go with 32 from Pierre-louis Maas as they won easily in the end. Wickepin-Harrismith went down in a low-scoring fixture at Wickepin, as Williams lost five wickets chasing less than 100. The home side batted first, and Williams’ Michael Forman ripped through their line-up, taking 5-27 as they were bowled out for 94. Brock Pockran was the only Wickepin-Harrismith player to make a real impact with the bat, scoring 41. Forman (0), Riley Ford (4) and Darcy Gillett (2) all fell cheaply, and Wickepin-Harrismith went on to claim two more scalps before Williams captain Rodney Ford got his side across the line in the 17th over. Rodney Ford was unbeaten on 26, while Julian Crudeli (23) and Toby Lavender (25) ensured Williams kept hold of second spot. For Wickepin-Harrismith, Ryan Konzag returned 3-27, and Pockran chipped in with 2-28.