All four grades of the Willetton Premier Cricket Club battled it out against University Cricket Club over the weekend.
First-grade:
First grade took centre stage away at James Oval, located at the University of Western Australia (UWA), for day one of a two-day match, spanning two weeks, against University.
With the Dragons in sixth place on the ladder and University in second with just one loss for the season, the Dragons faced a daunting challenge, but they were more than ready to rise to the occasion.
University won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Willetton delivered their best batting performance of the year, posting an impressive total of 404 runs.
Openers Brock Larance and captain Iszak Milentis set the tone, leading the charge with a strong start.
Larance made 62 runs, while Milentis contributed 72 runs.
Middle-order batsman Aaron Hardie was the standout, smashing 81 runs off 89 balls, including nine boundaries.
D’Arcy Short struggled to get going, managing only 21 runs, but Miles Hammond added valuable runs with 77.
The Dragons were bowled out for 404 runs in the 86th over.
University’s Corey Rocchiccioli impressed with the ball, taking five wickets, but conceded 134 runs off 30 overs in the process.
As the day came to a close, University faced two overs with the bat.
Despite the pressure, their nightwatchman survived the overs without losing a wicket or scoring any runs.
Second-grade:
At Burrendah Park, Willetton’s second-grade squared off in a thrilling top-of-the-table showdown against University.
University won the toss and chose to bat, but the Dragons’ bowlers fired, limiting University to a disappointing total of 151 runs.
Declan Crowder was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for just 32 runs, while captain Nic Geisler claimed two key wickets, including University’s opening batsman Braydon Fernandes for just 15.
Kiefer Lake piled on the pressure by dismissing University’s other opener for just nine runs.
University were all out in 73 overs, with 151 runs.
The Dragons faced 16 overs with the bat before the close of play, making 59 runs for the loss of two wickets.
Tom Balkwill remains unbeaten on 35 runs as the Dragons look to chase down the remaining 92 runs this Saturday with eight wickets in hand.
Third grade:
Away at McGillivray Oval, at UWA, University’s third grade elected to bowl after winning the toss.
The Dragons’ batting lineup struggled, with University’s Joshua Dallimore dismissing opening batsman Zaid Buckland for a duck.
Ethan Beatty top-scored for the Dragons with 32 runs, but they were bowled out for 112 in just 45 overs.
University’s Chili Farmer took a vital 4-wicket haul, restricting the Dragons to a low total.
Despite the disappointing total, James Scott made an immediate impact with the first ball of the innings, dismissing University’s opener Mitchell Smith for a golden duck, before ripping through the middle order, including another golden duck, taking four wickets in total.
University finished the day at 5/92, trailing the Dragons by 20 runs.
Fourth-grade:
Back at home in the fourth-grade, Willetton once again lost the toss, and University chose to bowl.
The Dragons have posted a competitive total of 264 runs, with opening batsman Dulina Gamage contributing 46 runs and middle-order batsman Jacob Watson top-scoring with an impressive 66.
Will Cutler was the best bowler for University, taking four wickets, but the Dragons’ batsmen managed to put together a solid total.
Willetton are 9/264 after 80 overs, with University yet to bat.
All four grades will be back in action this Saturday for day two of their respective matches against University.
The first and third grades are again away at UWA, while the second and fourth grades will be back at home in Willetton.
