Eaton stars with bat and ball for WA

Veteran Albany cricketer Terry Eaton has helped WA finish fourth at the Seniors Cricket Australia over-60s division 1 championships held in Perth last week, playing a big hand with both bat and ball as WA won two of their four matches.

Eaton, who plays locally in the Albany Cricket Association for Railways, finished the tournament with 67 runs and seven wickets from four games which was one of the best all-round performances at the championship.

His seven wickets which came at an average of 18.4 left him as the joint leading wicket taker for division 1 along with Tasmanian Roger Edmunds and fellow WA bowler Robert Henry who also finished with seven wickets while Eaton’s 67 runs from only three innings left him 16th overall in the batting aggregate.

Eaton’s best effort with the bat came in the final for WA where they faced the New South Wales Waratahs in a playoff for third and fourth at Burrendah Reserve.

WA batted first and finished with 7-154 from their 45 overs mainly thanks to Eaton who top scored with 47.

He was run out three runs short of a half century but in reply the NSW side reached the victory target five wickets down.

In their round robin matches earlier in the week Eaton made five runs and took 2-39 off eight overs in their loss to Tasmania and he returned 1-38 off eight in their win against Victoria.

Eaton was run out for 15 in WA’s total of 7-179 against South Australia last Wednesday before he helping restrict them to 7-165 in reply as the off-spinner took 3-29 off his eight overs.

The 63-year-old was delighted with his team’s performance and just glad he could contribute.

“We had a really good week and we were pleased with the result,” he said.

“We beat the eventual champions in Victoria and finished fourth.

“I bowled really well, got a couple of prized wickets and had a couple good days with the bat.

“All I can say is that I dropped one catch.”

Fellow Albany player John Corson was part of the WA over-70’s team which finished fifth, beating Tasmania in their playoff match.