Strong run chase helps Kendenup consolidate second place on the Great Southern Cricket Association ladder

Kendenup closed in on a top-two finish in the Great Southern Cricket Association after an impressive run chase helped secure a commanding victory over Tambellup in round 10 on Saturday. The match, played at Turf East in Albany, was set up by a dominant opening partnership between Clinton Gilbert and Cameron Walsh. Tambellup won the toss and chose to bat first. Despite posting a strong total of 7-163, Kendenup’s batting order showed their fluency and efficiency to reach that total with eight overs to spare. Walsh and Gilbert shared in a classy 72-run stand to start Kendenup’s chase before Jedd Herbert removed Walsh for 25 runs. The important wicket of Gilbert (66 runs) fell at the hands of Nathan Willmott in the 21nd over before Jarred Beech was sent back to the sheds without scoring after also being caught off the bowling of Willmott. George Liddiard dug in with a handy 23 runs before he was dismissed by Shane Willmott but Sebastian Ballard (27) and Matthew Gilbert (13) produced a game-sealing 43-run stand. Nathan Willmott was the only multiple wicket-taker for Kendenup with 2-19. Earlier in the innings, Tambellup built momentum with openers Connor Hawkins and Flynn Cristinelli setting them on their way with a 67-run opening partnership. Kendenup’s Jeremy Groves halted their momentum by removing Hawkins in the 18th over before Jared Ballard snared the two key wickets of Cristinelli (44) and Nathan Willmott (12) to leave them at 3-104 in the 26th over. Herbert and Shane Willmott added 14 and 22 runs respectively towards the back end of the innings but Tambellup failed to up the run-rate before the conclusion of the 45 overs. Arthur Liddiard starred with the ball for Kendenup, claiming 3-24 off six overs. Meanwhile, Broomehill continued their domination in the GSCA competition with a 108-run triumph over the winless Australs on Saturday in Katanning. With Broomehill batting first, opening batsman Jack Batchelor showed his class, smashing 115 off 97 balls before James Douglas finally had his wicket in the 30th over with the visitors in control at 4-196. Brant Dennis (27) and Sam Richardson (17) added some runs towards the tail end as Broomehill posted a huge total of 8-262. Andrew Gibbons (2-19) and James Douglas (2-52) were the pick of the bowlers in a tough day out. With a difficult run chase on their hands, Australs faltered early to lose their first six wickets for 56 runs. Scores from Jack Thompson (24) and Brad Garstone (36) gave Australs something to cheer about at the back end of the innings but they were all out for 154 in reply. Logan Lubcke returned the best bowling figures of the match, snaring 3-35 off nine overs in Broomehill’s seventh win of the season.