Albany representatives perform well for WA Country

WA Country was attempting to end a disappointing Australian Country Cricket Championships with a win against Victoria in their final match of the men’s tournament yesterday in Wollongong.

The men’s division began last Tuesday with WA falling in a one-day fixture to New South Wales before a second consecutive loss in the one-day format the following day, as Queensland cruised to a five-wicket win despite the best efforts of Albany brothers Julian Crudeli (2-24) and Nathan Crudeli (2-17).

On Thursday, the men’s Twenty20 competition began but WA continued to struggle, suffering a six-wicket loss to South Australia where Albany contingent Julian Crudeli, Nathan Crudeli, Mitchell Jackson and Patrick Butler all claimed a wicket.

Nathan Crudeli claimed an impressive 3-13 against Victoria in Friday’s early T20 as they made 112 but WA failed to chase it down, making 6-106 in reply despite a blazing 38 not out from Julian Crudeli off just 19 balls.

WA got on the board later that afternoon, however, against NSW, making 5-134 from their 20 overs led by an unbeaten half-century to Zane Marwick and a handy 19 from Julian Crudeli.

NSW finished 8-128 in a thrilling finish with Butler (3-25 off 4 overs) and Julian Crudeli (2-24 off 4) vital in the result.

In a rescheduled T20 last Saturday, WA went down to East Asia Pacific by five wickets.

WA set their opponents 134 to win with Great Southern product Jeremy Wood making 15 runs, but they passed the total five wickets down.

Nathan Crudeli (1-25 off 3) and Julian Crudeli (1-24 off 4) were again solid with the ball.

In the final T20 on Sunday, WA lost by five wickets against Queensland as they finished last in the T20 standings with two points from five games.

Julian Crudeli made 35 not out from 26 balls in WA’s 6-147 before the talented all-rounder took 2-20 off his four overs to go with Butler’s effort of 2-26. Reverting back to the one-day format on Monday, WA notched a second win of the tournament when they defeated East Asia Pacific by 94 runs.

Julian Crudeli again anchored the innings with an unbeaten 62 from 89 balls to go with handy contributions from Marwick (14) and Wood (19).

The Albany representatives then did the damage with the ball as Julian Crudeli (3-34), Butler (2-0), Wood (2-34) and Nathan Crudeli (1-27) helped dismiss their rivals for 115.

On Tuesday, South Australia batted first making 243 despite the best efforts of Julian Crudeli (3-40) and Nathan Crudeli (3-44), who opened the bowling while Butler (2-57) and Jackson (1-36 off 10) also chipped in.

Marwick made 30 before getting run out and Julian Crudeli continued his sensational tournament with 44 but WA were all-out for 192.

In yesterday’s final one-day match, WA batted first making 7-210 with Julian Crudeli compiling 68 not out from 72 balls which included two sixes to go with handy contributions from Wood (21) and Marwick (13).

At time of print, Victoria were 3-176 after 39 overs in their chase of 211 to win with Nathan Crudeli the pick of the bowlers having 2-16 off six overs.