Crudeli, Dallimore impress but WA Country XI bow out of WA Cricket Premier T20 competition in Perth

The WA Country XI has missed out on a place in the quarter-finals of the WA Premier Cricket T20 competition despite a comprehensive victory over Joondalup on Sunday.

After two losses in their first two qualifying matches in group D on December 5, the WA Country XI needed to win both their round three games to progress to the final eight.

Albany and Districts Cricket Association pair Nathan Crudeli (Mt Barker) and Josh Dallimore (Collingwood Park) made the team, which also contained ex-Railways all-rounder Julian Crudeli and former Manypeaks batter Jack Dawson.

WA Country XI batted first against Joondalup at the Justin Langer Oval and after the early loss of Michael Tassone, Bevan Bennell anchored the innings with a blistering 74 from 59 balls.

Bennell hit three sixes and crunched six fours while a cameo from Julian Crudeli (38 runs from 26 balls) helped WA Country XI reach 2-146 from their 20 overs.

Julian Crudeli picked up an early wicket and Joondalup were 3-26 before a partnership from Kai Orr and Jaron Morgan steadied the ship.

Spinners Dan Abel (2-13) and Brayden Clarke (3-24) turned the match back in the favour of WA Country XI and Joondalup were restricted to 9-120 in reply.

Dallimore claimed the second wicket of the innings and returned 1-22 from his four overs while Nathan Crudeli finished with 0-18 from his two overs.

In their second T20 at the same ground later in the day, the WA Country XI fell into early trouble after winning the toss and batting first against Scarborough.

Bennell (17) reached double figures but their top order failed to fire and were 5-48 before Nathan Crudeli made 13 from 18.

Dallimore was six not out at the end but only Clarke (12) and Abel (11) added some late runs as WA Country XI finished 9-96 from their 20 overs with WA young Cooper Connolly snaring 3-16.

Lochie Hardy top scored with 31 from 23 and Connolly added 19 as Scarborough reached the target six wickets down and with 13 balls to spare.

Nathan Crudeli opened the bowling and finished with 1-17 from three overs and Dallimore claimed the key scalps of Nic Maiolo (9) and Connolly in his two-over spell that returned 2-15.

The four-wicket loss ended WA Country XI’s hopes of reaching the qualifying finals, with top two teams from each group progressing.

Manypeaks batter Seb Stanton played for the WA Country Colts in the WA Premier Cricket Colts competition on the same day.

Stanton scored 12 as WA Country Colts made 109 in their chase of 153 to win against Perth in the first game on Sunday at Fletcher Park.

In the second T20 WA Country Colts finished with 6-132 as Stanton batting at number three hit two boundaries in his 20 from 24 balls.

However Joondalup passed the victory target seven wickets down and with three balls to spare.