GSCA 2023-24: Little separates top three teams after three successful run chases secure round four victories

Kojonup, Broomehill and Tambellup are locked on 16 points after each secured victories in round four of the Great Southern Cricket Association on Saturday, with all three completing successful run chases. An undermanned Kojonup secured an unlikely victory after defeating Kendenup by five wickets at home on Saturday. Kojonup fielded five debutants in their win over last season’s grand finalists, with skipper Liam Want finishing unbeaten on 84. Chasing 132 for victory, Want wasted no time blasting six fours and two sixes in a trademark innings to steer his side to the top of the ladder. Geoffery Pethick contributed 27 in the pair’s 67-run partnership before he was skittled by Dwayne Sobey. No other Kojonup batter would score double figures as Sobey continued to rip through the visitor’s middle order on his way to 4-36. Want’s captain’s knock proved the difference as Kojonup reached the target in just the 26th over. Earlier, Kendenup elected to bat but a consistent loss of wickets and a highest partnership of just 39 runs made setting a decent total difficult. Captain Clinton Gilbert led his side from the front with 40 runs, including six fours, while George Liddiard scored a patient 24. Josh Matthews proved a handful for the hosts as he tore through the middle order to finish with 5-22 from his nine overs, while Laurence Grant took 2-27 on debut. Lee Lucev picked up one 1-17 from seven overs and took two catches. Kendenup were rolled for 131 in the 35th over, the loss leaving them with just two wins from four games. Tambellup made it two in a row with a crushing nine-wicket triumph over the winless Wanderers at Tambellup. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Wanderers struggled to forge any solid foundations in their innings. The visitors slumped to 5-38 as Tambellup’s bowling attack feasted on the Wanderers’ batting line-up. Devon Cristinelli (3-4) and Bayley Drew (3-25) starred with ball-in-hand while Connor Hawkins and Matt Hankinson picked up one wicket each. Brock Green top scored for the Wanderers with an industrious 45, including four fours and two sixes, before falling to Hankinson. Captain Ryan Sinclair offered some respite with an unbeaten 12 from 33 but ran out of teammates his side were dismissed for 95 in the 22nd over. Tambellup’s opening partnership of Hawkins and Flynn Cristinelli, who is fresh off a mammoth 113 last week, chewed into the run chase at lightning speed. The pair belted the Wanderers’ attack to all ends of the park as they combined for 10 fours and four sixes. Hawkins’ 31 came from just 14 balls while Flynn Cristinelli finished not out on 44 from 25 deliveries. The hosts cruised to a nine wicket win in the ninth over. A 101-run opening stand from Australs was not enough to hold off reigning premiers Broomehill in Katanning. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australs got off to a flyer with openers James Douglas and Andrew Gibbons both getting impressive starts. Douglas scored 27 before being bowled by Ben Holmes moments after reaching a 100-run milestone with his batting partner. Holmes then claimed the scalps of Gibbons (45) and Devon Mills-Durack (0) as Australs lost 3-3 in the space of two overs. Holmes also clean bowled Australs’ only other double-digit scorer in Andrew Argyle (10), as the medium pacer continued to terrorise the home side. Australs were bowled out at the end of the 31st over for their best score this season of 130. Holmes finished with 4-25 from his six overs while star all-rounder Lewis Barritt continued his superb season claiming 2-9. Barritt continued his dominance into Broomehill’s batting innings, with the inventive right-hander scoring his second half century in a row. Finishing unbeaten on 53, Barritt and opener Jack Batchelor (47) each smashed five fours and two sixes. Batchelor’s knock came from just 29 deliveries, before being caught by Argyle off Cam Pearce. Broomehill chased the total of 132 in just 20.1 overs and with eight wickets in hand. David Potter was the pick of the bowlers for Australs with 1-13 from his three overs while Cam Pearce picked up 1-22 from five.