Brilliant week from Albany and Districts 16s but undefeated run comes to an end in grand final loss to rivals

Bunbury and Districts inflicted a second successive junior country week grand final victory over arch rivals Albany and Districts Cricket Association under-16s on Friday.

The two country week powerhouses have featured in the past three A-section deciders, with Bunbury and Districts’ superb six-wicket victory tipping the ledger 2-1 in their favour.

Albany and Districts were unable to defend their competitive total of 170 in the decider at Murdoch University Sports Ground, as Bunbury and Districts chased down the score for the loss of four wickets in the 45th over.

After winning the toss and batting, rising Collingwood Park and country representative batter Dash Germinario top scored with 59 from 88 deliveries before being stumped, while Chaz Durack added a crucial 24 from 28 balls.

Bunbury and Districts bowled tightly and leaked just six sundries before bowling their rivals out for 170 on the final ball of the innings as Benjamin Lincoln starred with 4-39.

Albany and Districts struggled to apply scoreboard pressure on their opponents early as opener Flynn Fazey patiently accumulated 55 runs and No.3 Corbyn Knox chipped in with 30.

Denmark pair Lochlan Otway (2-36) and Ryan Hick (1-19) each found vital breakthroughs before Lincoln (31 not out) and Jaxon Magennis (33no) guided their side to a memorable six-wicket victory.

Albany and Districts had an undefeated run in the pool games, winning all five matches to book their place in the decider.

They beat the eventual champions in a T20 on Monday, restricting Bunbury and Districts to 5-97 to claim a thrilling one-run win at Abbett Park on Monday with Germinario scoring 44 from 50 balls.

Albany and Districts then defended 119 against Busselton-Margaret River in their second T20 on Monday as Hick belted 51.

On Tuesday Albany and Districts made a big score of 6-261 batting first against West Pilbara, led by 72 from Max Osborne and an unbeaten 59 from Cooper Barlow.

Lucas Baker then snared 4-26 as Albany and Districts won by 71 runs.

They again made more than 200 on Wednesday as Osborne hit 15 boundaries in a brilliant 95 not out from 110 balls to help his side make 7-217.

Hick finished with 3-21 as they beat Geraldton by 88 runs.

In their final qualifier on Thursday, Albany and Districts were commanding six-wicket winners over Wellington who made 9-84 from 50 overs.

Osborne finished as the fourth leading run scorer in A-section with 184 at an average of 61, while Baker was the best Albany and Districts bowler across the five days, taking 10 wickets at 12.5.