A CONVINCING win has moved the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association (WDCA) team a step closer to the Melbourne country week provincial grade grand final.
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At Beach Oval at Brighton on Wednesday, the WDCA dominated with bat and ball to thrash Bairnsdale.
Rain early in the morning reduced the game to a 37-over-a-side contest with WDCA winning the toss and sending Bairnsdale in.
The WDCA bowlers made that decision a good one as they tore through the Bairnsdale batting line-up. At one stage, Bairnsdale had slumped to 5-20 before showing some grit in the lower order to stumble its way to 95 all out in 34.4 overs.
Kyle Humphrys (3-17) was the most successful bowler while Jason Mungean finished with the incredible figures of 2-6 off eight overs, including four maidens.
With a small total to chase down, the WDCA team made sure they didn’t flirt with their form. Openers Cameron Williams (82) and Nick Butters (31) got them away to a flying start. It took the WDCA just 15.2 overs to get the runs they needed to win. They spent the next 24 overs piling up the runs and building their percentage. Humphrys (33) and Mungean (16) also made solid contributions with the bat while Jeremy Burgess (24 not out) finished the job to get the WDCA to a final score of 7-216.
They now play Mornington Peninsula in the final qualifying game at Noble Park on Thursday, a game they need to win to make the grand final on Friday.
WDCA coach Ray Drew was happy with his team’s performance.
“Our fate is in our own hands now, we have to win well tomorrow to reach the final,” Drew said.
“It was a really good win today, the ground dried up well and the pitch was beautiful and we batted and bowled well. Our fielding was fantastic today, that’s the best we have fielded all week and the boys really backed the bowlers up. With the bat, Cameron and Nick got us off to a great start, we were 60 off 10 overs so that put us in a good spot.”
Wednesday was a day to forget for South West Cricket Association (SWC) as they had a heavy loss against Ferntree Gully and District. In 30 overs, Ferntree Gully and District made 6-204. In reply, SWC was bowled out for just 73 in 26 overs.
Our fate is in our own hands now, we have to win well tomorrow to reach the final
- Ray Drew
