Garlick helps guide Albany and Districts to first-up win over Eastern Goldfields at country week

A brilliant all-round display helped Albany and Districts first XI record a convincing win over Eastern Goldfields on the first day of the annual senior country week in Perth on Sunday.

The Whalers’ bowling order showed their class with an even spread of wickets in the first innings to restrict Eastern Goldfields to 86 batting first before storming to a strong total of 181 in the second innings.

The match hung in the balance multiple times for the Whalers but South Australian all-rounder Alex Garlick bobbed up for a game-saving 69-run knock to ensure they got over the line.

Whalers’ Ryley Valli (1 run) and Myles Holland (0) were the first to be dismissed before Lincoln Joy and Coen Marwick restored some order to a shaky opening period.

Joy and Marwick put together a 43-run partnership but Graham Kennedy snagged the wicket of Joy in the 14th over.

Things were looking uncertain as Ollie Davidson (1 run), Seb Stanton (5) and captain Marwick’s wickets all fell in the space of a few overs as they stumbled to 6-58.

Eastern Goldfields were in the box seat as English import James Bottomley’s wicket was crashed into from the bowling of Kennedy in the 20th over.

However a vital 54-run stand between Garlick and youngster Teague Valli (19) ensured they quelled Eastern Goldfields’ momentum to cruise past the required total and win by 95 runs.

Veteran Ryan Kinnear added an unbeaten 28 runs to close out the innings as Albany and Districts finished all out for 181.

Garlick shone with the bat in a versatile display, finishing with 69 off 90 balls.

Earlier in the innings bowling performances from Ben Grey (2-14), Garlick (8-2) and Scottish international Oliver Davidson (2-15) helped the Whalers set the tone.

Eastern Goldfields were 5-28 in the 17th over and despite middle order contributions from Samuel Carraghan (21) and Trent Bradshaw (19), their last five wickets fell at the cost of 58 runs.

Meanwhile a sparkling century from Jason Jones guided the Albany and Districts B-section side to a first-up win against South Midlands at Burrendeh Park on Sunday.

With Albany and Districts winning the toss and electing to bat, they posted 181 in the first innings before a five-wicket haul to Hayden Davies helped them knock over South Midlands for 171.

Angus Thompson (11), Dan Robson (2), Jed Schwarzbach and Aran Tilbury (3) were all dismissed to leave Albany and Districts at 4-74 but Jones continued to show an array of shots in a glittering innings that included 19 fours.

Lachie Tindale (16) and Steven Scott (14) chipped in with some contributions towards the back end of the innings but their side was ultimately bowled out for 181 in the 48th over.

Davies snared the first four wickets in the second innings, removing Kane Millstead (6), Ashley Martin (19), Lewis Roe (16) and Ben Giles (0) to leave South Midlands at 4-57 by the 15th over.

South Midlands had handy contributions from their middle order but they were knocked over 10 runs shy of their target.

Davies finished with superb bowling figures of 5-35 in a rampant display.

The B-section team had Geraldton in a tough spot at 5-50 by the 17th over on Monday.

Elsewhere Albany and Districts C-section team proved too strong for Bunbury and Districts in their clash on Sunday to finish 48-run winners.

Half-centuries to James Morris (53) and Gary McGlade (51) helped them post a strong total of 7-207 with Bunbury and Districts only managing to score 159 in reply.

Riley Wood was the pick of the bowlers for Albany and Districts, taking 3-23.

Port Hedland were 3-71 midway through the first innings in their clash with Albany and Districts on Monday.