SOUTH Midlands Cricket Association fixtures resumed last weekend after the Country Week Championships break.
SMCA achieved mixed results at the championships with the C and E grade teams performing well and almost making the finals.
However, the A grade lost all five games and now look sure to be relegated back to B division.
In local games last weekend, the match of the round was between the top of the table Lower Chittering Warriors and Bindoon Bushrangers.
Bindoon Bushrangers 214 (C Smith 95, P.Haywood 27, A.Grey 4/22, W.Snedden 2/20) defeated Lower Chittering Warriors 202 (S.Harney 63, J.Honke 34, N.Kay 4/34, B.Kay 3/51).
The Bushrangers won the toss and made a competitive 214. Clayton Smith held the Bindoon innings together with 95, continuing his outstanding form that has been with him all year.
In reply the Lower Chittering Warriors were dismissed for 202 in their first loss for the season and a game that went down to the wire.
Lots of Warriors batsman got starts but only Steve Harney was able to convert with 63.
A lack of depth in the Warriors batting was exposed as the Bushrangers were the first team to really test the Warriors.
The pace and swing bowling of Neil and Bruno Kay was the decider in the game when things got close. They captured 4/34 and 3/51 respectively.
This win will give the Bushrangers a lot of confidence as they head towards the finals and was perhaps the loss the Warriors needed pre finals to keep them motivated.
The game did however show the reliance the Bushrangers place of the bat of captain Clayton Smith and the lack of depth in the Warriors batting that can be exposed with early wickets and pressure bowling.
In other games this week, the Dandaragan Bears bounced back into finals contention with a win over the Gingin Reds.
Strong batting from the Bears top six enabled them to make a competitive score of 7/205 with all batsman getting a start.
In reply the Reds were always under pressure with the loss of early wickets. Only Steve Balcombe 75 and Jake Edwards 17 reached double figures as they were dismissed for 138.
A comprehensive win enabled the Bears to leap over the Reds back into fourth spot on the ladder as the race for the finals hot up.
The final match of the round was between the Bindi Miling Rams and the Muchea Tiger Snakes, played in Muchea.
Again, batting first, the power hitting of the Rams was on display with Jason Borrett making 82 including 8 sixes and 5 fours and Jarrod Martin 49 including 5 sixes as the Rams amassed 271 against the young Muchea bowling attack.
The Rams totally controlled the game from start to finish dismissing the Tiger Snakes for 211.
This will secure the Rams third place on the ladder and a very likely home final.
A worry for them, however, would be that they failed to bowl Muchea out for less than 200.
Although they took wickets at regular intervals they will need to strike earlier and their bowlers bowl with more consistency if they want to win against the top placed teams and be competitive in the finals.
Next week’s games
Bindi Miling Rams v Moora Knights
It is hard to go past the Rams at home in this game. The Rams batting has proved all year that they will be strong against any attack and the Moora bowling attack has failed to make in-roads into most teams this year. The Rams should have a comfortable win at home.
Gingin Reds v Muchea
This game will be the game of the round with the loser facing the prospect of not being able to make it to the finals. With so much at stake both teams will be full of energy and be looking to dominate, which should provide some entertaining cricket for spectators.
In what should be a close game Muchea should have the edge and win over the less experienced Gingin Reds.
Bindoon Bushrangers v Dandaragan Bears
This game also has a lot at stake for both teams. A win for the Bushrangers could enable them to challenge for top spot, while a loss for the Bears could see them drop out of the four with a win to either Gingin, Muchea or Moora in other games.
Both teams play aggressive attacking cricket and the small Bindoon ground will suit both teams.
The Bushrangers will rely heavily on the bat of Clayton Smith to get them the win and if he doesn’t provide the Bears could win and cement a spot in the top four as finals loom. In what should be a great game the Bushrangers should just win.
Lower Chittering Warriors have the bye.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter