Win against Mt Lawley not enough for WA Country XI to reach quarterfinals in WA Premier Cricket T20 comp

The WA Country XI missed out on a place in the quarterfinals of the WA Premier Cricket T20 competition despite a convincing win against Mt Lawley on Sunday.

After losses to Willetton and Scarborough in their two qualifying matches in Group D on November 13, they needed two victories to secure a spot in the next round.

Albany and Districts Cricket Association had Nathan Crudeli as its sole representative while ex-Albany all-rounder Julian Crudeli also donned Country XI colours.

WA Country batted first against Mt Lawley at Retravision Stadium 2 with Callum How and Michael Noble sharing in a 35-run opening stand.

In a blistering start, How (28 runs from 20 balls) smacked six boundaries against Jye McDonald in the third over but he was caught from the bowling of Liam Ward-Armstrong two overs later.

Mt Lawley’s Michael French snared his first wicket, removing Michael Noble on 18 before Michael Tassone (10) fell next, leaving the Country at 3-94.

Bevan Bennell (42 off 30 balls) steadied the ship with a crucial knock before Nathan Crudeli and Clayton Bruce-Cherry chipped in contributions to close out the innings.

Crudeli whacked 26 runs off 17 balls and Bruce-Cherry had 21 runs off 18 balls to reach 5-159 at the changeover.

Ward-Armstrong (65) and Muhammad Ashfaq (27) shared in a 68-run stand but both were removed by the 15th over with their side 2-120.

Needing 40 runs from the last 24 balls, the Hawks were restricted to 5-151 and fell eight runs short of their required target.

Bruce-Cherry was economical with the ball to snare 1-11 and Julian Crudeli (1-35) was also influential with the ball.

In their second T20 contest against Rockingham-Mandurah later in the day, the WA Country won the toss and elected to bat.

Things looked promising after How and Noble’s 30-run opening partnership, but How (17), Tassone (2) and Noble (21) all fell within four overs of each other.

Most of the WA Country’s middle order failed to fire despite Julian Crudeli smashing 34 off 31 balls at No.4.

The Mariners removed WA Country for 111.

WA Country were buoyed early by the wicket of dangerous opener Corey Wasley (12 runs) but State young gun Teague Wyllie caused problems for their bowling attack, crunching an unbeaten 40 runs off 28 balls including five boundaries.

Bruce-Cherry and Daniel Abel snared the wickets of George Bell (33 off 21) and Damien Burrage (12 off 11) but the Mariners reached the total in the 12th over.

Liam Renton (1-26), Abel (1-19) and Bruce-Cherry (1-32) were the only wicket takers for WA Country.

Meanwhile the WA Country Colts fell short of a quarterfinal berth in the Colts League after their loss to Rockingham Mandurah on Sunday.

Manypeaks’ Seb Stanton and Collingwood Park’s Oliver Davidson played for the side.

Davidson scored nine runs while Stanton chipped in with two as their side finished 7-80 in the first innings.

The Mariners reached the target in just the sixth over without losing a wicket, ending the Country Colts’ hopes of progressing in the tournament.

The Country side ended their campaign on a positive note, defeating Mt Lawley by four wickets in their last match.