GSCA 2023-24: Broomehill’s Barritt buries Wanderers, ton from Cristinelli and Australs batting woes continue

At the end of round three of the Great Southern Cricket Association, three teams are level on 11 points after Broomehill and Tambellup claimed their second wins of the season on Saturday. Broomehill recovered an early-order batting collapse to post a strong first innings total, on their way to a 93-run victory over the winless Wanderers in Broomehill. All-rounder Lewis Barritt starred with both bat and ball, finishing with a top score of 64 and took four wickets to steer his side to victory. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Broomehill reached 9-255 runs but poor shot selection early meant they slumped to 3-63. Kyle Potter (42) and Mac Crichton (43) steadied the ship for the home side as they combined for a 41-run partnership before Potter pulled one to mid-wicket. Barritt walked to the crease at 4-104 and produced an inventive but much-needed innings to lift his side’s total above 200. His industrious 64 came from 75 deliveries with seven fours before he fell to Wanderers all-rounder Brock Green. Green finished with 3-31 from six overs while fellow opener Elijah Quartermaine (2-54) and leg-spinner Tyron Pinney (2-50) also contributed with the ball. In the chase, Wanderers got off to a strong start seeing off both Broomehill openers without loss. After a wonderful knock, Barritt produced a herculean nine-over spell with the ball. His nibbling medium pacers gave non-stop headaches to the Wanderers batters, with their top three being dismissed by him. Wanderers skipper Ryan Sinclair finished unbeaten on 33 and Pinney (40) formed a solid 77-run partnership through the middle overs. But their slow scoring rate left them with too many runs to chase late in the piece as they finished on 6-162 at the end of 45 overs. Barritt was the pick of the bowlers with 4-15 from his nine overs, while Slade Green and Crichton took one each. Last year’s runners-up Tambellup brought an end to Kojonup’s undefeated start to the season at Kojonup on Saturday, as young opener Flynn Cristinelli scored a century for the visitors. Kojonup were left to rue their decision of sending Tambellup into bat, after the visitors top order dominated the bowling attack. Tambellup opener Cristinelli’s 113 came from 132 balls, including 13 fours and two sixes to help post a first innings total of 9-222. Fellow opener Connor Hawkins chipped in with 21 before being skittled by Lachlan O’Shea, which brought Shane Wilmott to the crease. Kojonup’s headaches continued as the batting pair put on a 123-run partnership before Harry Taylor got one through Wilmott’s defences. The rest of Tambellup’s batting order would not make more than a single-digit score as the visitors lost 7-32. Josh Matthews finished with 4-29 from six overs, while Taylor and O’Shea snared two each. In pursuit of 223 for victory, most of Kojonup’s batsmen got starts but none were able to go on and make a significant score. Taylor fell four short of a half century while, Geoffrey Pathick (34) and O’Shea (19) also got themselves in. Cody McColl provided some late-innings entertainment to try and reel in the score, blasting 32 from 21 balls. His knock, which included two fours and two sixes, came to an end when he was trapped in front. Tambellup’s entire bowling unit stuck to the plan, with all six of their bowlers claiming at least one scalp. Wilmott claimed 2-28 while Devon Cristinelli and Daniel Nazzari were the other two multiple wicket-takers. In the final game of the round, Kendenup thrashed the winless Australs by 186 runs at Kendenup on Saturday. Kendenup won the toss and elected to bat, and were bowled out in the 44th over for 210. Jakob Douglas fell agonisingly short of a century when he was dismissed by Andrew Gibbons for a run-a-ball 97. Kendenup survived a middle-order batting collapse when they lost 4-13 to find themselves at 6-131. But their tail wagged with some contributions from the bottom order, which elevated them above the 200 mark. Holly Pearce claimed 3-51 and Gibbons, Kris Norris and Axle Pearce all took two each. Australs woes with the bat continued with none of their batters scoring double digits and their innings lasting less than 18 overs. They were rolled for 24 with five ducks and a top score of four from David Potter. Ryan Bedford took 3-5 and Darcey Burcham claimed 3-6 in a dominant bowling display.