WA Country XI end their Australian Country Cricket campaign with two wins to finish second on standings

The WA Country XI have fallen short of winning the men’s title at the Australian Country Cricket Championships, despite beating eventual champions Victoria in their final match in Canberra last week. The WA men’s side ended their campaign on a positive note, winning their last two games against New South Wales and Victoria on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. To claim the overall title WA needed Australian Capital Territory to convincingly beat Victoria on the final day but Victoria emerged two-wicket winners to get their hands on the silverware. After dropping the first two games of the tournament to the ACT and Queensland, the WA side went on to notch four consecutive wins to finish second on the standings behind Victoria. Albany and Districts’ Nathan Crudeli clinched an All-Australian selection as a batter for his efforts across the seven-round competition, while former Albany resident and now Bunbury and Districts star Julian Crudeli was named the player of the tournament along with All-Australian selection. WA finished their campaign with a spirited four-wicket win over Victoria in their final match, after a stunning partnership from sibling duo Nathan and Julian Crudeli helped seal the result. Chasing 240 to win after Victoria batted first in the 50-over clash, WA started in worrying fashion as they lost the important wickets of Bevan Bennell (2) and Tim Hutchison (5). Michael Tassone and Julian Crudeli shared in an important 57-run stand before Tassone was trapped in front by Jake Toohey on 28. With Nathan Crudeli stepping up to the crease, the brothers shared a game-defining 68-run partnership before Julian Crudeli was out for lbw in the 38th over to leave WA at 4-145. Despite that wicket, Adam France and Nathan Crudeli dug in to add a further 73 runs before Crudeli fell cheaply for a well-made 71. WA cruised to victory in the end as France (52no from 26 balls) and Damien Burrage (10no) got their side across the line in the 48th over. Earlier Victoria were bowled out for 240 with Mt Barker pair Nathan Crudeli (1-34) and Jeremy Wood (1-20) both snaring a wicket. WA were two-wicket winners over New South Wales in their 45-over clash on Wednesday, with Nathan and Julian Crudeli claiming a wicket each as NSW made 9-174 before they added 34 and 33 runs respectively in the successful chase. Nathan Crudeli took 1-35 and Julian Crudeli returned 1-28 while spinner Cruize Ciallella snared 2-23 from nine overs. WA were rattled early at 3-11 after the loss of Calum How, Michael Noble and Bennell but a partnership from Julian Crudeli and Michael Tassone (70) steadied the chase. WA got over the line to finish at 8-177 with two balls to spare. WA had the bye on the final round of the competition. Meanwhile, the WA Country XI women’s side managed one win from their six games. WA dropped games against ACT, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Papua New Guinea. Albany and Districts bowler Holly Pearce snared a wicket in the seven-wicket win over Queensland last Sunday. Classy knocks from Janelle Phillips (46no) and Emily Allen (30) helped ensure WA got home in the 19th over in the Twenty20 clash. Pearce (1-10) also took a wicket in the 49-run loss to Victoria as well as taking a scalp in the 20-run loss to ACT with figures of 1-15. In their last match against New South Wales, WA fell 44 runs short after failing to chase down 85 in the T20 match. Pearce returned 1-14.