Albany and Districts to face Peel in A-section semifinal after horrible day three loss to Upper Great Southern

Albany and Districts first XI had a costly defeat on day three of senior country week, coughing up top spot in pool B and will now face the top ranked pool A team, Peel, in Thursday’s semifinals. The Whalers were unbeaten after two days of the annual tournament in Perth but were thumped by Upper Great Southern on Wednesday, slipping to second spot as a result. Bunbury and Districts leapfrogged the Whalers and finished on top of pool B after crushing Eastern Goldfields. Albany and Districts winning run came to an end after suffering a heavy 122-run loss at Breckler Park. Uppers batted first and piled on the runs, as Dylan Kirk led the way with a terrific half century. Kirk hit nine boundaries in his innings of 93 from 113 balls to set Uppers up with a winning total. Contributions from Nic Corner (40), Bailey Parsons (35no) and Aarron Quartermaine (22) helped Uppers reach 6-215. Dylan Holt was the only multiple wicket taker with 2-61 from 11 overs. The Whalers had a top order batting collapse and never recovered, bowled out for 93. Kieran Howie (0), Seb Stanton (4), Ted Batchelor (4) and Lincoln Joy (3) went cheaply as the Whalers fell to 4-16. Nathan Crudeli tried to lead a fightback with 16 and Dylan Holt made 10 but Uppers kept taking wickets as the Whalers fell to 9-44. It could have been even worse for the Whalers if not for a 49-run final wicket stand between Charlie Walters and Hayden Davies. Davies made an unbeaten 32 and Walters chipped in with 17 but the Whalers were skittled by the Uppers attack. David Head led the way for the winners with 4-20 and he was well supported by Dylan Brooks (2-17) and Jordan Hughes (2-14) as Uppers won their first game of the tournament. The Whalers now face Peel at Murdoch University for a chance to reach Friday’s grand final at the WACA. On Monday the Whalers secured a semifinal berth after holding on for victory against Bunbury and Districts at Burrendah Park on Monday. After a comprehensive day one victory over Eastern Goldfields, the Whalers were chasing 175 to win on day two and assure themselves of a top-two place heading into the final qualifying game against Upper Great Southern on Wednesday. For the second day in a row it was star all-rounder Crudeli who delivered victory for the Whalers, this time with a destructive innings to get his side out of trouble. Openers Howie and Alex Fergie made a fast start to the chase, adding 48 runs for the first wicket before Liam Renton removed Fergie on 11. Howie belted six boundaries in his 34 from 40 balls before he was bowled by Cory Fitt. Batchelor (9) and Joy (1) both fell cheaply to leave the Whalers 4-84 but Crudeli would prove the right man for the rescue mission. Crudeli cracked eight boundaries in his superb 71 from 91 balls and a 69-run stand with Jeremy Wood took their side towards victory. The Whalers were 5-153 when Wood departed for 18 and they needed only three runs to win when Crudeli became Fitt’s fourth victim. However, Fitt then snared Stanton for a duck and Coen Marwick (14) followed in the next over as the Whalers lost 3-0. Patrick Butler made a dashing 23 from 13 balls, hitting five boundaries, and youngster Walters added four as the Whalers survived a late scare to pass the total with two wickets to spare. Earlier, Crudeli struck without Bunbury and Districts scoring and then his side took regular wickets to restrict their opponents to 174. Michael Tassone top-scored with 40 and he got support from Bradman May (33) and Bevan Bennell (29) but the Whalers bowlers had a strong showing. Spinner Butler bowled 21 overs and was rewarded with 3-51 while young seamers Davies (2-12) and Walters (2-7) made crucial breakthroughs. Joy picked up the big wicket of Tassone, trapped lbw, in his spell that yielded 2-22.