Marwick and Crudeli shine in Statewide T20 finals

WA Country XI have fallen short in their bid for the WACA Statewide T20 title, losing Sunday night’s final at the WACA ground to Wanneroo by 43 runs.

Railways pair Zane Marwick and Nathan Crudeli were part of the WA Country side who bounced back from a disappointing Australian Country Championships to win through to the decider on Sunday afternoon against the WA Suburban Turf Cricket Association.

WACA Premier Cricket T20 winners Wanneroo won the toss and batted first in the final under lights, with Crudeli taking the first wicket of the match when he removed Robert Richards for six.

A blistering innings from Max Holden, who made 91 runs from 58 balls, set the tone for Wanneroo, while a strong contribution from Jacob Johnston (51 runs off 32 balls) helped their side reach 5-186 from their 20 overs as Crudeli finished with 1-32 from three overs.

Wanneroo then made early inroads with the ball as the WA Country XI fell to 4-34 when Reece O’Connell departed on 13.

Marwick, however, helped get things back on track as he combined with Clint Yeates for a 75-run partnership. After making a solid 27 from 31, Marwick was removed by Richards, and Yeates followed soon after on 44 as WA Country XI felt the pressure of a rapidly rising required run rate.

WA Country XI finished 7-143 in their chase, outclassed by the WACA first-grade side in the end, with Crudeli not required to bat.

Earlier in the semifinals at Fletcher Park, Marwick made an unbeaten 20, which came off 26 balls as WA Country XI set WASTCA 111 to win.

Again, Crudeli did not bat but he made up for it with the ball as he snared two top-order wickets, both lbw, and then returned at the death to take the final wicket as WA Country XI won by 12 runs.

Crudeli finished with outstanding figures of 3-7 off 3.1 overs in the tense win.