Kinnear, Crudeli brilliance propels Whalers into senior country week A-section final

Albany and Districts Cricket Association will chase a 16th Boan Cup tomorrow after progressing to this year’s A-section final at senior country week. Albany’s first XI remain unbeaten in the tournament after their 50-run win over Upper Great Southern in today’s semifinal at Tompkins Park. Nathan Crudeli was the hero with the bat for the Whalers before Ryan Kinnear spun his side to victory, setting up a showdown with Peel at the WACA for country week glory. Upper Great Southern were set 224 to win by the Whalers on the back of a unbeaten century from Crudeli. Kalan Joyce and Nic Corner blunted the Whalers attack in the early stages and their 61-run stand was finally broken by Patrick Butler. Corner was dismissed by Kinnear soon after and that was the start of a magnificent spell from the right-arm spinner. Kinnear delivered victory for his Whalers, taking a remarkable eight wickets as Upper Great Southern were bowled out for 173 late in the day. It was fitting that Kinnear took the final wicket of Grady Francis, and he snared the major scalp of Uppers skipper Rodney Ford who was the man that threatened to turn the game. Kinnear finished with 8-55 from 16 overs, his best-ever country week performance. All 10 wickets fell to spin on a slowing wicket, as Butler snared 2-53 from his 14 overs. Earlier Crudeli (0-10 from 8 overs) and Jeremy Wood (0-11 from 8) were extremely hard to score against. Ford was the anchor of the Uppers innings, his defiant half century full of class and he was eventually out caught for 63 off 68 balls. Joyce made 30 and Corner added 21 but the day belonged to firstly Crudeli and then Kinnear, as they powered their Whalers into another country week decider. Earlier Crudeli rescued the Albany innings after they slumped to 5-38. Francis (4-55) and Kane Pinney (3-79) ripped through the top order but Crudeli and Aidan Dallimore produced a valuable 72-run stand. Dallimore departed for 21 off 66 balls and from there Crudeli charged on to bring up triple figures in the final few overs. His sparking 109 not out lifted the Whalers to 7-223 from their 60 overs. Crudeli hit two sixes and eight fours as he showed his class while late hitting from Nathan Dovey (35) and Butler (16no) was also vital. The Whalers have won all four matches this week and head into the final against Peel in red-hot form. The decider begins at 10am tomorrow at the WACA. Meanwhile Albany’s second XI will play for fifth and sixth place tomorrow after a crushing 10-wicket win today. After bowling Eastern Goldfields out for 135, Albany cruised to victory thanks to openers Matt Burton and Tim Shephard. Burton blasted 88 not out and Shephard was unbeaten on 41 as Albany reached the small target in the 28th over. Skipper Matt Heberle was terrific with the ball claiming 5-43 and Oswin D’Sylva chipped in with 2-35. Albany face West Pilbara in the play-off tomorrow. In C-section Albany lost their fourth game of the tournament, going down to Wyalkatchem today. They will now play-off to avoid relegation when they face Northam tomorrow. Wyalkatchem made 8-252 batting first today despite the best efforts of James Morris (4-78). Rodney Light made 37 and captain Graeme Weinert scored 35 but Albany were bowled out for 142 in reply.