GSCA 2023-24: Broomehill secure big win to stay locked on points with Kojonup, Kendenup thrash Wanderers

Broomehill made it three wins on the trot with a dominant seven wicket win on Saturday, to sit equal on points with Kojonup in the Great Southern Cricket Association. Kojonup and Broomehill are level on 21 points after each secured wins on the road in round five. Reigning premiers Broomehill overcame a slight batting collapse to claim a huge victory against third-placed Tambellup, who were left to rue their early dropped catches. Chasing 179 for victory, Broomehill got off to a fast start with opener Jack Batchelor scoring a quickfire 39 from 27 deliveries. The home side did not help themselves though as frequent sundries kept the scoreboard ticking over. Defending the total, Tambellup were left to rue three dropped catches in the first five overs with Bacthelor handed two lifelines. Tambellup’s Devon Cristinelli replaced the wayward Bayley Drew from the western end and had an immediate impact. He claimed the scalps of Broomehill’s top three inside five overs and with two fresh batsmen at the crease the remaining 84 runs looked an uphill battle. Broomehill’s Kyle Potter (56 runs) and Lewis Barritt (22) ensured no other batsman was required as the pair knocked off the run chase with ease. In a brutal knock 52 of Potter’s runs came from boundaries which included seven fours and four sixes while Barritt finished with one four and one six. Broomehill passed Tambellup’s total in the 27th over to make it three wins in a row. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Tambellup struggled to puncture Broomehill’s ring of fielders. Opener Jack Hawkins was skittled by Batchelor for two as the visitors tightened their bowling and stemmed the flow of runs early. Flynn Cristinelli and Shane Wilmott formed a solid partnership of 61 before the latter skied one off Lewis Barritt while trying to up the ante. Lewis Barritt bowled Flynn Cristinelli for an innings-high of 43 from 60 balls after an uncharacteristically aggressive stroke. Devon Cristinelli took it upon himself to try and push the run-rate along and with some streaky shots he scored 32, hitting four fours and one six. Broomehill’s Bryce Hinchcliffe showed his lofty potential with a superb solo effort off his own bowling, to run out Lewis Miller for four. Tambellup’s Lachlan Bradshaw and Drew attempted to accelerate in the final five overs but tight death bowling by Lewis Barritt and Bachelor made it increasingly difficult for the Tambellup tail to wag. Lewis Barritt finished with 3-24 from nine overs with four maidens and Batchelor took 2-26 from his eight overs. Wanderers remain bottom of the ladder after a nine-wicket thrashing at the hands of Kendenup at Quartermaine Oval on Saturday. Kendenup successfully chased a target of 168 for victory in a commanding fashion, reaching the total by the end of the 22nd over, for the loss of just one wicket. Wanderers got off to to perfect start when Adam Edwards bowled Matthew Gilbert for a duck in the second over but that is where it ended for the home side. Kendenup skipper Darcey Burcham and young gun Jakob Douglas scored the runs without a blip. Burcham made 69 not out with six fours while Douglas belted an unbeaten 87 from 51 balls including 10 fours and one six. Earlier Wanderers won the toss and elected to bat before posting a commendable 167 but were all out in the 40th over. The hosts were in trouble early as they slumped to 5-54 which included ducks from Toby Quartermaine and Tuhiwai McRoberts. Aggressive opener Brock Green scored a 39 before being bowled by Jethro Wright, bringing Caleb Keley to the crease. Keley went on the attack and plundered 42 from just 26 deliveries including five fours and one six and his skipper Ryan Sinclair provided an anchor role contributing 42 from 90. Jared Ballard led the way for Kendenup with the ball claiming 3-14 from nine overs while Wright (2-24) and Jack Horrocks (2-41) were the other multiple wicket-takers. Australs’ woes with the bat continued in Katanning on Saturday after ladder leaders Kojonup rolled the hosts for just 42. Just one batsman made double figures in Andrew Gibbons (15 runs) and the leading run scorer for the side was extras. Mitchell Blakers took 4-4 from five overs while Kyle Smith claimed 2-2. In pursuit of 43 for victory, Jamie Young (11 runs) and Stratton Jones (13) scored quickly before Jones was cleaned bowled by Devan Mills-Durack. Gibbons and Mills-Durack combined to claim 3-3 to give the hosts a small glimmer of hope but that was quashed when Craig Clinch (11 runs) walked to the crease and hit two boundaries to win the game.