Cuballing defeat Towns in last over of contest in Upper Great Southern Cricket Association round 10 action

Cuballing held off a determined Towns outfit in round 10 of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade competition despite a classy unbeaten knock from Towns star Nick Corner in Narrogin on Saturday. Corner finished on an unbeaten 90 but it was not enough as Cuballing took the last wicket of the contest in the final over to secure a thrilling two-run victory at Clayton Road Oval. The two sides shared in a Pink Stumps game for the fixture, raising money for the Jane McGrath Foundation. Towns were set 181 to win after Cuballing posted 5-180 at the conclusion of their 45 overs and the chase came down to the final over. Tom Munns and Perrin Quartermaine fell for six and 18 respectively as Towns started their run chase in shaky fashion. Corner entered the fray and immediately made an impact, putting on a steadying 76-run partnership with Liam Sweeney (25) before the latter was run out by Bevan George. Corner worked the ball around the field nicely to reach 90 off 126 balls, with two fours and one six, but wickets were falling around him. Towns lost 7-73 and they needed six runs to claim victory off the final six balls, with Corner and Daniel Rodrick set the task of steering their side home. Corner hit a quick single and Rodrick added two with the next ball to take Towns to 9-178, leaving them needing three runs off the last three balls. However, Cuballing’s Grady Francis bowled Rodrick with the fourth ball of the over to break Towns’ hearts and secure their fifth win of the season in the process. Grady Francis was outstanding with the ball, finishing with figures of 4-28, while fellow opener Brock Francis snared 3-37 from nine overs. Earlier, Joe Dowling and Blair Forrest helped Cuballing to their strong total, with Tyron Miller also chipping in. Dowling hit two sixes on his way to 38 and he was well supported by Forrest (39) and Miller (33). Late cameos from Grady Francis (30 not out) and Michael Moore (11 not out) ensured their side set a strong total. In other games, Wandering recorded their sixth win of the season with a 73-run victory over Lake Grace in Wandering. Wandering posted 9-188 batting first, with Lake Grace managing only 115 in reply. Benjamin Sherry (51 off 61 deliveries) made an economical half-century and Bryan Hardie chipped in with 38 off 44 for the home side. Lake Grace’s Jack Carruthers finished as their top scorer in the second innings with 34 off 38, but his side was bowled out inside 34 overs. Brendon Hardie dominated with the ball with figures of 4-29 in a devastating early spell, while Bailey Parson took 3-33. In the final game of the round, Williams defended a strong total of 6-208 to emerge as 44-run winners over Pingelly-Noonebin at Williams. Rodney Ford smashed 82 off 100 with six fours and one six and Justin Wood contributed 38, which included six boundaries. Despite determined efforts from Pingelly-Noonebin’s Jordan Hughes (47) and Jack Blechynden (50) in the run chase, they were all out for 164. Steven Ford was the pick of the bowlers with 4-24 from nine overs.