Wyalkatchem win senior country week C-section title after strong batting display against Albany and Districts

Albany and Districts have gone down in the senior country week C-section grand final, outclassed by Wyalkatchem on Friday at Morris Buzzacott Reserve.

The ADCA third team chased down 161 with only two wickets to spare against Green Range-Ongerup 1 on Wednesday to secure their place in Thursday’s semifinals.

The Whalers then had a four-wicket win over Northam 1 in the semis to book their place in the 50-over decider.

However, after winning the toss and batting first, they could only manage 119, Darren Grey top scoring with 31.

Robert Stan-Bishop added 23 late while James Morris (19) and Blair Hutton (17) got starts but Albany and Districts were left to defend 120 after Brady Garner and Thomas Moore both snared four wickets.

Luke Siegert and Moore made solid starts in the run chase before Ash Hornby removed Siegert on 20.

Klint Hagboom pushed his side towards victory with 34 from 71 balls before he fell to Morris but Albany and Districts would not take another wicket.

Moore was unbeaten on 20 while Rod Shemeld belted the attack to all parts, crunching four sixes in his quickfire 41 not out from 33 balls to get Wyalkatchem home in the 34th over.

It was a dominant eight-wicket win in the end for Wyalkatchem despite the best efforts of Hornby (1-26) and Morris (1-34).

In Thursday’s semifinal, Morris and captain Graeme Weinert were the destroyers, both taking four wickets.

Weinert made strong inroads in the Northam top order at Gwynne Park as he snared 4-28 from 12 overs while Morris returned 4-18 as they bowled their rivals out for 102.

Important contributions from Morris (22), Grey (20) and Hutton (15no) helped Albany and Districts survive a few nervy moments, reaching the target in the 29th over.

Hutton (3no) and Hornby (10no) were at the crease when Albany and Districts secured victory in their final pool game on Wednesday.

Albany and Districts lost eight wickets in the chase but John Miell’s 44 and an impressive 38 from Weinert set up the win.

Morris was the team’s leading run scorer with 165 at an average of 33 for the week and he also led the bowling with 13 wickets at 10.54.