The Willetton Premier Cricket club’s first-grade side was once again on the road this week as they took on Bayswater-Morley Bears in the first 90-over match of the season.
Willetton lost the toss and was sent into the field and struggled in the first session and a half, with the home side making their way to an imposing 1/165 from just 37 overs.
Stewart Hepburn proved to be the point of difference, blasting through the top and middle to salvage the game for the visitors, allowing them to dismiss them for 253.
Stewart was clinical in his performance, taking 6/43 from 20 overs to kickstart a huge batting collapse of 9/88 over the course of 52.4 overs.
Opening batters Brock Larance and Iszak Milentis made it through the last eight overs of the day, finishing unbeaten on 11 and 6, respectively. The Dragons require a further 237 runs to win the game.
The second-grade side was sent in to bat at Hola Park 1 and made their way to a daunting 9-294 from their 90 overs, an inning which received contributions from all players, with four of the top five batters scoring 40 or more.
Lachlan Lake top scored with 66 runs, while Sean Boers and David Cameron notched half-centuries on day one of play.
Willetton’s third-grade side elected to bat first after watching young Mitchell Kukura notch his first century for the club with 115 from 171 in the U17s at Hillcrest Park Upper.
The visitors managed a competitive 238, with Ethan Beatty top-scoring with a powerful 82 from 110 balls, which was well supported by Charlie Gough, who added 46.
The Bears were sent in to face six overs late in the day and made it through without losing a wicket; they require 217 runs to defeat Willetton.
The fourth-grade side blasted 281 runs for the loss of just four wickets thanks to English Import Sam Julyan, who added 104 runs.
Ellis Cassidy and Blake Stephen also contributed with half centuries each. They declared after just 65 overs and sent the Bears in to negotiate a tricky 13-over period, but opening bowlers James Andrews and Kai D’Souza proved too good, taking a wicket each to leave the visitors stumbling at 2/17 overnight.
The Dragon’s first-grade side will resume their round 5 match against the Bears this Saturday as they chase down that target of 253 runs.
