Wandering remain in hunt for spot in Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade finals

A brilliant batting performance from Evan Barrett and Ben McMillan guided Wandering to a crucial victory over cellar-dwellers Pingelly-Noonebin in the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade competition on Saturday.

The win puts Wandering six points adrift of ladder leaders Williams and equal on 18 points with Cuballing and Lake Grace with three rounds left to play before finals.

Barrett smashed a formidable 85 runs off 92 balls while McMillan whacked 92 off 108 to steer their side to a 66-run victory over Pingelly-Noonebin on their home deck.

Batting first, Wandering made a strong 6-250 which included an important cameo from Troy Warburton.

Wandering were 1-21 after the early wicket of Bryan Hardie (13) before Barrett and McMillan took control of the game with a glittering 164-run partnership

Lucas Hull snared the wickets of Barrett and McMillan to deny them centuries but Warburton rallied with a rapid 45 off 26 to guide them to a big total.

Hull finished as the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-31 in a clinical display with the ball.

Pingelly Noonebin lost the early wickets of Henry Blechynden (2) and Jordan Hughes (17) but Jack Blechynden (64 off 97 balls) and Brett Blechynden (68 off 82) steadied the ship with a 119-run stand.

Jacob Blechynden was caught off the bowling of Barrett and Brett Blechynden’s wicket was knocked over by Blake White soon after.

Pingely-Noonebin lost three more wickets as they fell well short of their target at the conclusion of their 45 overs to finish at 7-184.

White (2-21) and Warburton (2-2) finished with impressive bowling figures for the winners.

Meanwhile Cuballing easily accounted for Lake Grace with a 101-run win at Cuballing on Saturday.

Cuballing posted 6-228 batting first with Lake Grace managing a paltry 127 in reply.

Brock Francis (53 off 78) and Bevan George (49 off 71) top scored for Cuballing while Mitchell Smith took 3-53 with the ball for Lake Grace.

Kael Gray (27 off 31) provided some scoring drive for Lake Grace but they were knocked over inside 32 overs in their fourth loss of the season.

Wouter Moolman starred with the ball, snaring 5-24 to lead his side to victory.

Williams consolidated top spot after completing a comfortable run-chase against Towns, winning by five wickets in Narrogin.

Towns were all out for 133 with Pierre Maas (32 off 22) and Liam Sweeney (29 off 70) the best with the bat.

Brock Titko decimated the Towns’ batting order, snaring 5-35 and he was well supported by Steven Ford (3-36).

Rodney Ford shone in Williams’ run-chase with a 70-run innings that included five fours as they finished at 5-134 inside 37 overs to record a strong win.