Albany and Districts pair Joy and Crudeli fire as WA Country XI too strong for Wanneroo in Premier T20 contest

The WA Country XI have finished their Premier T20 campaign with one win, beating Wanneroo in round three of the competition in Perth on Sunday.

The representative team contained Albany and Districts pair Nathan Crudeli (Mt Barker) and Lincoln Joy (Royals) along with the Great Southern’s Harry Grigson (Broomehill).

WA Country XI lost to Willetton and Gosnells in the opening round of their pool games on October 15 with Crudeli and Mt Barker’s Jeremy Wood playing.

In their first game on Sunday at Iluka, the WA Country XI chased down 133 to win on the back of an outstanding innings from Joy.

Joy belted an unbeaten 74 to lift his side to a terrific win, as they reached the target with three balls to spare.

Former Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat player Chris Sabburg claimed an early wicket when trapping Haydn Slodecki in front without scoring.

Fellow WA Country XI opener Jaxon Cornford was next to go on 18 with his side 2-51 as Clayton Bruce-Cherry joined Joy at the crease.

Joy smashed five sixes and five fours in his superb knock that came in just 57 balls.

Bruce-Cherry added 31 from 26 deliveries as the WA Country XI won by eight wickets.

Earlier Crudeli claimed the huge scalp of Sabburg on his way to figures of 2-36.

Crudeli had Sabburg caught behind on just one and despite contributions from Deon Billington (30) and Brodie McGhie (30 not out), Wanneroo finished on 6-132 from their 20 overs.

Despite going at nine runs per over Crudeli returned 2-36 from four overs while spinner Brayden Clarke also snared 2-25.

The WA Country XI then faced Joondalup in their final pool game, which was rain affected.

It became an 11-over per side game and Crudeli hit two sixes in his quickfire 26 from 16 balls.

Joy was out for 14 while Grigson batted at No.3 and made only three as WA Country XI reached 7-88.

Joondalup finished seven-wicket winners in the end, chasing down the target with four balls to spare.

Kai Orr led the way with 40 while Jake Riccardi (27 not out) and Harry Larmett (13 not out) also played handy cameos.

Crudeli was expensive with his two overs going for 31 runs, while quick Zane Verhaaf was the best with the ball for the WA Country XI, returning 2-13.

WA Country XI finished fourth in pool D and missed a spot in the quarterfinals of the competition.