All-rounder Marwick bowls into big league

All-rounder Coen Marwick joined elite company with his remarkable 27-wicket haul from country week, propelling him into the record books as one of the best individual performers for the Albany Cricket Association.

While Marwick's incredible feat was not enough to push Albany into the A-section final, his 27 wickets placed him alongside leg-spinning great, the late Joe Menegola, as the seventh-best haul by an Albany bowler in more than a century of country week history.

It is understood the medium pacer was the first bowler since Colin Penter in 1971 to capture more than 25 wickets in a week consisting of five matches.

Marwick had previously captured 13 wickets from 17 A-section country week matches.

Shouldering the seam bowling load with teammate Nathan Crudeli, the 19-year-old captured four five-wicket hauls, with his best innings figures coming against Geraldton where he snared 5-16 after taking nine wickets for the match in the outright win over Broome on day one.

He rounded out the week with a gallant 5-81 from 22 overs as Albany went down to Upper Great Southern to crash out of contention for the final, but topped the A-section wicket-takers' table.

Despite battling with a side strain, seamer Ben Grey finished with nine wickets, while opener Crudeli captured eight.

Younger brother Brendan Crudeli was Albany's leading run-scorer with 228 runs to be the sixth most prolific batsman in A-section, while left-hander Matt Clothier made 208, averaging 51.50.

Captain Ryan Kinnear said Marwick was unlucky to not claim the Barry Shepherd Medal for the best player at country week, which was awarded to Upper Great Southern all-rounder Arron Quartermaine for the second consecutive year.

"He was outstanding for the whole week, you couldn't get the ball out of his hand," Kinnear said.

"Pushing up into the breeze, he was really up to the task.

"Against Geraldton, who have a pretty strong batting line-up, he was virtually unplayable and just bowled them out.

"Being a seamer short as we were, he was outstanding. Hopefully he goes on as a cricketer."