Tambellup far too strong for Wanderers, Broomehill first team into grand final in GSCA

Tambellup produced a dominant display in the Great Southern Cricket Association elimination final, knocking out rivals Wanderers at Tambellup Sports Ground on Saturday. Broomehill were winners of the qualifying final as they prevailed over Kendenup but it was a superb bowling display from Tambellup that was the highlight of Saturday’s two finals. Star all-rounder Nathan Willmott was outstanding for the home side with a five-wicket haul to guide his side into a preliminary final. Connor Hawkins snared the first scalp after Wanderers won the toss and batted first but Nathan Willmott snared the next three wickets to leave the visitors reeling at 4-4. Wanderers skipper Ryan Sinclair did his best to hang around but he simply ran out of partners as the Tambellup bowling attack caused plenty of headaches. Nathan Willmott finished with sensational figures of 5-14 from his nine overs to lead the attack, as Wanderers were bowled out for just 55. Sinclair made a fighting 14 not out from 67 balls and Naime Siniva (12) was the only other player to reach double figures. Hawkins chipped in with 2-5 from five overs while Daniel Willmott, Devon Cristinelli and Matt Hankinson also snared a wicket each. In reply, Tambellup made light work of the small total, losing only the wicket of Flynn Cristinelli for seven. He fell with the score on 16 but Hawkins (24 not out) and Jedd Herbert (15no) powered their side to a convincing nine-wicket win, chasing down 56 to win in 14 overs. Tambellup progressed to Sunday’s preliminary final where they play Kendenup, who lost the qualifying final to Broomehill. Broomehill made 164 batting first but that was enough in the end as Kendenup managed only 128 in reply. Jack Batchelor led the way for Broomehill with 42 from 39 balls at the top of the order, smashing eight boundaries. Mac Crichton (24) and Sam Richardson (26) also played important knocks for Broomehill. Kendenup shared the wickets around with Arthur Liddiard returning the best figures of 2-24 from eight overs. Jeremy Groves (2-34) and Jared Ballard (2-10) also took multiple wickets. Batchelor snared two vital early scalps, dismissing Clinton Gilbert for nine and then trapping Darcey Burcham in front for 13. George Liddiard fell for a duck to make it 3-37 and Kendenup never really recovered from that point. Scott Hillman provided some middle order resistance with 38 and Jarred Beech made 24 but Kendenup went down by 36 runs in the end. Richardson snared 3-21 and Ethan Caldwell also returned 3-26 to push the home side directly into the grand final.