WA Country post impressive one-day win

WA Country XI have claimed a a first-up win in the one-day format at the Australian Country Cricket Championships yesterday, following their mixed fortunes in the Twenty20 part of the annual tournament.

Five Great Southern players are part of the WA side competing in Shepparton, Victoria and after two early losses in the T20 competition, WA rebounded to defeat Victoria and then South Australia.

However, they missed making the T20 final by one point and then after an opening bye in the one-day games, faced Victoria yesterday.

WA won the toss and batted first, making 247 after being bowled out in the final over with openers Aaron Burrage and Tim Hutchison setting the platform with a 99-run opening stand.

An impressive 40 runs from 39 balls from vice-captain Zane Marwick was pivotal in the middle order while fellow Great Southern players Nathan Crudeli (19) and Jeremy Wood (11) also chipped in.

Victoria were bowled out for 148 in reply handing WA a 99-run victory. Crudeli snared 3-16 while local spinner Patrick Butler starred taking 4- 37 off 10 overs.

In the T20s, Marwick made a vital 48 not out from 41 balls, which included three sixes, as he anchored the successful run chase against South Australia with WA winning four wickets down with 11 balls to spare.

With the ball, Crudeli has been outstanding, taking a wicket in every match thus far with the fast bowler snaring 3-14 in the loss to Queensland.

Wood made 23 against South Australia and took one wicket in four T20 games.

Butler has bowled impressively with an economy rate of under five runs per over and returned best figures of 3-19 off four overs in the first game of the carnival.

Late call-up Nathan Crosby has a top score of 12 from four innings thus far.

WA coach Tim Edmunds was pleased with his side’s response after losing their first two games.

“It was a tough first day on a tricky wicket,” Edmunds said.

“But the way the boys came back, especially to defend 120 against Victoria and then chase down 140 over South Australia was great. We are starting to find our feet and are well placed in a very even competition.

“We’ve seen a lot of bonus points earned so we have to take them when you get the opportunity but we are well and truly in the competition.”

WA face Queensland in a 50-over game today before tackling South Australia tomorrow.