Upper Great Southern Cricket Association top four to be decided in final round of fixtures

Pingelly-Noonebin kept their finals chances alive with a spirited 75-run victory over Lake Grace in the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association on Saturday.

The commanding win was set up by a sparkling century to Jack Blechynden, who guided his side to a strong total of 6-224.

Lake Grace struggled to form big partnerships in reply and were bowled out for just 149 as they slumped to a sixth defeat of the season.

The win puts the fifth-placed Pingelly-Noonebin two points behind Lake Grace in fourth spot as they head into the last round of the regular season.

Spencer Sewell (0) and Henry Blechynden (2) fell early as Pingelly-Noonebin slumped to 2-5 but they bounced back to post a strong total in their 45 overs.

Jack Blechynden’s 102-run knock included nine fours and one six and was complemented by Jordan Hughes, who whacked four fours on his way to 58.

Mitchell Smith took 2-34 while Brayden Reynolds returned solid bowling figures of 2-35 for Lake Grace.

Lake Grace were in a dicey spot at 3-50 and were unable to conjure a steadying partnership, with their next four wickets crumbling for just 14 to leave them at 7-64.

Tailender Damon Pelham showed persistence with a late contribution, hitting five fours and one six on his way to a fighting 44, but he lacked support as the team was skittled for 149.

The three-pronged bowling attack of Callum Giles-Morton (3-34), Jordan Hughes (3-29) and Spencer Sewell (3-20) proved a handful in Pingelly-Noonebin’s third win of the season.

Wandering remain a chance to finish on top spot after a crushing victory over Towns on Saturday.

Bowling first, Bryan Hardie (3-15) and Blake White (3-17) ripped through the Towns’ batting order to knock them over for just 55.

Despite Towns’ Mitchell Akland snaring the early wicket of White (5), reliable batters Jacob Schorer (23) and Ben McMillan (28) guided Wandering home comfortably inside 13 overs with nine wickets in hand.

Williams maintained their two-point lead over second-placed Wandering by cruising to a nine-wicket win over Cuballing.

Michael Forman returned brilliant figures of 3-13 for to restrict Cuballing to 81 before Williams reached that total within 15 overs.

Rodney Ford hit a rapid 48 not out off 33 (four fours and two sixes) and Robert Rose added 22 not out off 33 as they won easily.

This Saturday Lake Grace will battle for a fourth place finish as they face Williams, who will also be aiming to stitch up top spot.

Pingelly-Noonebin will need that result to go their way as they face off with Wandering in the final round, who are also chasing top spot in the competition.

Third-placed Cuballing will play bottom side Towns, who are four points adrift of the top four.