Strong first-up Country Cup win for WA Invitational side as Harry Grigson heaps pain on Albany & Districts

WA Invitational XI produced a crushing four-wicket win over Albany and Districts Cricket Association in Narrogin on Sunday, starting the new Belt-Up Country Cup campaign in strong fashion. Albany and Districts lost the toss but batted first at Clayton Road Oval and they lacked meaningful partnerships, bowled out for 152 with more than eight overs left. The small target was quickly eaten into by Great Southern Cricket Association pair Liam Want and Harry Grigson. A middle-order collapse got the Whalers back into the game but a brilliant performance from Grigson guided the WA Invitational XI to a strong round one victory in the 50-over competition. Grigson smashed 78 not out at No.3, to anchor the WA Invitational XI innings as they chased down the target with 121 balls to spare. The Whalers were hunting early wickets in their defence of a small total, and Jeremy Wood got the early breakthrough, bowling Keagan Lynch for one in the third over. Want, however, upped the ante when his new partner Grigson joined him at the crease, and the pair added 45 runs. Jeremy Wood removed Want on 31, his quickfire innings including one four and two sixes, but Grigson then partnered with Eastern Districts star Tully Biglin to get his side within sight of victory. Grigson was on just nine when Want walked back to the pavilion but he feasted on the loose Whalers bowling, racing to a half-century before Biglin was bowled by leg spinner Lincoln Joy for 14. Joy then gave his side a small glimmer of hope, snaring Daniel Brabham (2) and Clayton Bruce-Cherry (2) in quick succession to have the WA Invitational side at 5-120. That became 6-121 when Coen Marwick clean-bowled GSCA’s Flynn Cristinelli for a duck. However, Grigson found support in Harry Goesch (13 not out) as they scored the remaining 32 runs without much trouble. Grigson, who is playing with Broomehill, belted five sixes and three fours in his match-winning knock. Two of those maximums came off Albany and Districts’ Joe Swan in an over that went for 17 runs. Grigson hit a six off Joy to bring up the win for the WA Invitational XI, who needed only 29.5 overs to defeat the Whalers. Jeremy Wood (2-31) claimed two crucial early wickets, and Joy spun his side back into the frame in the middle period with 3-29, but they simply didn’t have enough runs on the board. Joy and Jeremy Wood were both strong performers with the bat as well. Gerard McKenna snared Alex Fergie for six, but Joy and Coen Marwick got the score moving. Marwick was next to go on 12, then Albany and Districts overseas player Rhys Lewis threw away a start when he became Bryn Bursill’s first scalp. The Whalers were in trouble at 4-76 when Joy was undone by Bursill on 35, with his entertaining innings including three fours and two sixes. Jeremy Wood had a 73-ball stay at the crease, fighting hard for his 32, while lower-order support from Devon Jefferis (16) and Clayton Wood (13 not out) helped the Whalers scrape to 152. Bursill was outstanding with 3-18 from seven overs, Grigson snared two late wickets, and WA Invitational XI captain Bruce-Cherry also toiled hard with the ball to return 1-17 from 7.3 overs. Grigson was dropped early in his innings by Joy, and Lynch produced one of the highlights of the day with a wonderful catch to dismiss Swan in the first innings. In the other round one Country Cup fixture, Bunbury and Districts were two-wicket winners over Peel, chasing down 186 at Hay Park. Angus Beattie top-scored for Peel batting first, with 41 not out, while Cruize Ciallella claimed 3-26 for Bunbury and Districts. Strong scores from Bradman May (41) and Adam France (40) got Bunbury and Districts home in the 45th over despite Joseph Duxbury taking 3-43 for the losing side.