GSCA 2023-24: Tambellup book decider with reigning premiers Broomehill as Kojonup exit in straight sets

Tambellup booked their spot in the Great Southern Cricket Association grand final after bundling Kojonup out of the title race in straight sets on Sunday. In the preliminary final Tambellup cruised to a 61-run win over Kojonup in Kojonup to book themselves a spot in the decider against reigning premiers Broomehill, who cruised to a seven-wicket win in Saturday’s qualifying final. Tambellup’s bowling attack feasted on Kojonup’s batting line-up spearheaded by a shattering partnership between first-change bowlers Matt Hankinson and Shane Willmott as the hosts were skittled for just 96 runs inside 41 overs. Chasing 158 for victory, a nervy Kojonup handed Tambellup a free wicket in the first over of their pursuit when Flynn Cristinelli ran out opener Jamie Young for a duck. Nathan Willmott and Connor Hawkins continued to dominate with the ball removing Geoffrey Pethick (18) and Peter Robertson (4) in their opening spells. At 3-24, Kojonup attempted to define a valuable partnership through captain Liam Want (14) and Heath Brown (3), before Hankinson and Shane Willmott ran through the middle order. The pair combined for five wickets as the hosts collapsed losing 5-50 as they slipped to 8-59. Josh Matthews (23) and Stratton Jones (14 not out) dug deep for a vital 33-run ninth-wicket stand before Hawkins cleaned up the tail and sent his side into the grand final. Hawkins finished with 3-31 from 8.4 overs while Shane Willmott claimed 3-10 from nine. Earlier, Tambellup were sent in to bat and were cruising at 2-112 before Want spun his side back into the game with a stunning nine-over spell yielding four wickets. Want claimed 4-14 from his nine overs after Tambellup’s top order failed to convert their starts into meaningful totals. Tambellup No.4 Nathan Willmott top scored with 33 before his side’s batting collapse of 7-14 had them slip to 9-126. Hankinson provided some late-innings heroics with a quick-fire 25 which included two fours and one six, elevating his side to a defendable total of 157. Tambellup got into the preliminary final after a dominant eight-wicket win over Kendenup on Saturday in the elimination final, on the back of a superb knock from captain Flynn Cristinelli. After being set 155 for victory, Cristinelli scored a magnificent 94 runs from 124 balls which included six boundaries with one clearing the rope. He put together a 132-run stand with Shane Willmott (25) before being dismissed by Ryan Bedford six runs shy of his second century of the season and four runs shy of the winning total. Earlier, Tambellup’s Nathan Willmott claimed 4-15 from nine overs in his side’s bowling innings as they restricted Kendenup to 154 from their 45 overs. Scott Hillman top-scored with 50 before Jared Ballard provided a key innings of 33 not out. Broomehill stormed to yet another grand final with a strong qualifying final victory over Kojonup in Broomehill on Saturday. After winning the toss and batting, Kojonup were rolled for just 129 inside 43 overs with all of Broomehill’s bowlers getting in on the action. GSCA player of the year Lewis Barritt claimed 3-45 from his nine overs while Ethan Caldwell, Ben Holmes and James Barritt chipped in with two wickets. Kojonup’s Pethick top-scored at the top of the order with 36 before skipper Want chipped in with 33. Broomehill reeled in the total with ease with David Hinchcliffe top-scoring with 38 at the top in a 42-run third-wicket stand with Mac Crichton (37) before Lewis Barritt finished the run chase with an unbeaten 34. Broomehill are chasing their third successive premiership on their home turf when they host Tambellup on Saturday in the big dance which begins at noon.