WA country XI men’s team rally after shaky opening, women’s squad notch one win in tough outing

The WA Country XI men’s side have bounced back from consecutive defeats in their first two matches to notch two crucial wins over South Australia, Philippines and New South Wales at the Australian Country Cricket Championships in Canberra. After a disappointing opening to their campaign with losses against Queensland and Australian Capital Territory, WA rallied with a 92-run victory over South Australia on Monday and made it back-to-back wins with a 304-run thumping of Philippines on Tuesday. WA won the toss against SA and elected to bat but with Calum How and Michael Noble’s wickets falling cheaply in the early stages, they were staring down the barrel of a third straight defeat at 2-7 in the fifth over. A 95-run stand to Michael Tassone (36 runs) and Bevan Bennell (64) steadied the innings before both their wickets fell in the space of 17 balls. Contributions from Julian Crudeli (30), Tim Hutchinson (25) and Adam France (24) guided them to a solid total of 7-222 at the conclusion of 50 overs. South Australia were restricted to 9-130 in reply after a four-wicket haul to Cruize Ciallella (4-32). On Tuesday against the representative team from the Philippines, Mt Barker star Nathan Crudeli hit 55 from 27 balls in a swift batting display to help WA post a massive total of 7-368 in the first innings. Sibling duo Nathan and Julian Crudeli shared in a 83-run partnership, with Julian falling just 13 short of a century. Noble raised the bat after whacking 100 from 79 balls. WA destroyed the opposition’s batting line-up to have them all out for 64, with Bulls talisman Jeremy Wood snaring wonderful bowling figures of 3-12. In their 45-over clash with New South Wales on Wednesday, WA chased down a strong total of 9-174 to make it three wins in a row. Adam France secured the win in stunning fashion, smashing a four with the fifth ball of the last over to help put WA second in the standings after round five. Ciallella had the best figures with 2-23 while Nathan Crudeli took 1-35 and Julian Crudeli snared 1-35. Tassone carried the load in the second innings with a 75-run knock with Nathan (34) and Julian Crudeli (33) also chipping in. Meanwhile the WA Country women’s XI country championship campaign came an end with the side managing only one win from their six games. WA dropped games against Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Papua New Guinea. Talented ADCA bowler Holly Pearce snared a wicket in their seven-wicket win over Queensland on Sunday. Pearce took four wickets across the women’s campaign. Queensland were held to just 114 in the first innings as Joanne Walker (3-16) did most of the damage with the ball for WA. 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.