Whalers hopes of reaching final dashed after opening losses

Albany Cricket Association’s first XI team have had their finals hopes dashed after suffering a second consecutive defeat yesterday, failing to defend a small total against Upper Great Southern on day two of senior country week in Perth.

The Whalers began their 2017 A-section campaign against archrivals Eastern Goldfields at Breckler Park on Sunday but failed to post enough runs after a poor start with the bat.

Losing openers Brendan Crudeli (6) and Ryan Kinnear (8) cheaply didn’t help but the Whalers slumped to 5-61 after a middle order collapse.

A patient 44 from 64 balls from Nathan Dovey helped the Whalers towards a defendable total and with contributions from Nathan Crudeli (37 off 83) and Coen Marwick (31 off 38) they were able to reach 7-185 from their 60 overs.

Eastern Goldfields were 1-0 when Coen Marwick removed David Forrest for a duck but Richard Fone, Warren August and Jay Collard guided their side to victory.

Fone smashed 84 to go with handy runs from Collard (65 not out) and August (45) as Eastern Goldfields finished 5-214 from 60 overs, as they passed the victory target in the 53rd over just four wickets down.

Coen Marwick was the pick of the bowlers with 2-41 from 12 overs while Brendan Grogan (1-35 off 9) and Harry Broomhall (1-36) also made breakthroughs.

Yesterday Albany were beaten easily after another dismal batting display, this time against a strong Upper Great Southern outfit at Hillcrest Reserve.

The Whalers won the toss and chose to bat but were immediately in trouble at 4-42 and then 6-77 but lacked support.

Zane Marwick made 17 off 30 balls while Nathan Crudeli batting at number five hit two fours and six in his knock of 27 but they lacked support.

Albany were eventually bowled out for 97 off 46.4 overs , with Albany product Julian Crudeli talking 2-19, while WA Country representatives Kendal Ballard and Aarron Quatermaine also took two wickets.

Upper Great Southern lost an early wicket in their chase after Coen Marwick trapped Tom Forrest lbw for 7 before he struck again to remove Perrin Quartermaine to leave them 2-64.

A 107-run partnership between former WA Country XI captain Rodney Ford and ex-Albany representative Julian Crudeli guided Upper Great Southern home however as they eventually finished 5-233 from their 60 overs.

Ford was given a couple of chances on his way to 99 from 133 balls only to get bowled by Harry Broomhall trying to reach triple figures.

Julian Crudeli added 44, which included six boundaries, as Upper Great Southern passed the total only two wickets down.

Coen Marwick was the pick of the Albany bowlers with 2-29 off his 14 overs, Nathan Crudeli returned 0-34 off nine and Broomhall chipped in with 2-45 later on.

The loss leaves the Whalers at the foot of division black with three games to play, their next against Harvey-Leschenault today but a place in the final highly unlikely.

In B-section the second side made 160 all out before Wyalkatchem reached 7-243 in reply and in C-section the thirds were bowled out for 58 in reply to Wyalkatchem’s 7-194.