Albany win second Country Cup title after restricting Bunbury

Albany Cricket Association have won their second Toyota Country Cup title, after prevailing against Bunbury in a gripping contest at Breckler Park in Perth today to wrap up the Twenty20 finals competition.

The Whalers won the toss and batted first and set an imposing total of 139 for Bunbury to chase on the back of a brilliant innings from opener Jeremy Wood, in his maiden appearance for Albany.

Wood blasted 77 runs from 50 balls, including five sixes and was eventually out in the 16th over with the score on 114.

Contributions from Matt Walters (17) and Nathan Crudeli (17) helped the Whalers reach 6-138 from their 20 overs.

That target proved too much for Bunbury as a slow start had them on the back foot and when prized wicket Jono Whitney fell for just 6 to speedster Ben Grey it appeared a big task to go on and win.

At 6-63 after 13 overs the match seemingly had slipped away from Bunbury but a late cameo from wicketkeeper Paul Jones (36 runs off 27 balls) gave his side a glimmer of hope.

Bunbury fell short however as the Whalers survived a tense last few overs to restrict them to 9-119 in reply and win the title for the first time in 30 years.

Seamers Grey (3-13), Coen Marwick (2-27) and Brendan Grogan (2-13) were superb while man-of-the-match Wood also produced a spectacular one-handed catch on the mid-wicket boundary to help dismiss Whitney.

Albany’s last match of the tournament was a virtual final after beating West Pilbara and Geraldton on Sunday while Bunbury also were undefeated from their first two games.