WACA final within reach

Upper Great Southern Cricket Association will be pushing for a place at the WACA for the country week A-section grand final.

In round one of the tournament UGSCA held off a determined Albany Cricket Association 2 side.

Electing to bat first UGSCA posted 6-245 from 60 overs, off the back of a strong performance from Towns’ Perrin Quartermaine (46) and Kukerin-Dumbleyung’s Kalan Joyce (60).

UGSCA were reduced to 3-84 after the quick dismissals of Towns’ Nick Corner (2) and Harrismith’s Arron Quartermaine (12) but again found their feet through Joyce, Pingelly-Noonebin’s Tom Blechynden (27) and Towns’ Kendall Ballard (59).

Albany overcame the early loss of opener Alexander Fergie (9), which had them one down for 19 runs, as Matthew Ferreira and Nathan Dovey posted an 82-run partnership.

After Arron Quartermaine dismissed Dovey for 50 and the eventual run out of Ferreira for 59, Albany were left without answers and were bowled out for 218.

Cuballing’s Brock Francis and Grady Francis claimed three wickets each, while Quartermaine snared two.

On Monday in round 2, the Francis brothers terrorised Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association 1 batsmen, bowling them out for 41 in 17 overs.

Brock Francis took five in the innings including a hat-trick, for 19 runs off eight overs, while Grady Francis took 4-21 off 8.4 overs.

Bunbury and Districts looked like they had a chance in the match after Clint Hewson took a double wicket maiden in the first over.

Quartermaine and Joyce ensured UGSCA, easily surpassing the 42-run target and going on to post 112 and 58 respectively.

UGSCA declared on 7-245 off 55 overs, including a healthy 48-run contribution from Wandering’s Lincoln Joy, sending Bunbury and Districts in to bat again.

Bunbury and Districts again collapsed in their second innings, posting 9-111 off 26.2 overs.

Kukerin-Dumbelyung’s David Head claimed a five-wicket haul for 31 runs off 9.2 overs, while Grady Francis picked up another three wickets.