BDCA 2023: Blue day for Eaton Bobtails as Marist flex muscles throughout nine-wicket win at Forrest Park

Marist showed no mercy against Eaton on Saturday, cruising to a comprehensive nine-wicket win at Forrest Park North. The Blues were never seriously challenged — dominating all three phases of play — and now hold a two-game buffer in fourth spot over the Bobtails. On the back of a convincing nine-wicket defeat against Dalyellup seven days earlier, the Blues were keen to redeem themselves and were boosted by several handy inclusions. Back into the team were dynamic duo Shawn Gillies and Brayden Clarke, while Tim Bowen also recovered in time from a shoulder-based injury. Operating with a five-pronged bowling attack, Marist’s seamers got down to business early, with Michael Chappell (2-22 off 10 overs) striking early from the construction site end, removing James Hillery in his second over. While Blues players were thrilled with this telling blow, they were equally enthusiastic when overseas recruit Scott Fisher, operating from the Forrest avenue end, claimed his first wicket in a Marist shirt. The Bobtails never recovered from the loss of these early wickets, and although they still attempted to play positive cricket, runs dried up around the ground. Midway during the innings, Blues skipper Haydn Slodecki elected to turn the screws, injecting spinners Clarke (3-28 off nine overs) and Cory Fitt (2-21 off 10 overs) into the fray. Both men got plenty of movement and wickets fell for the home side. Determined to fight until the end, senior duo Matt Foreman (37 off 72 balls) and Jacob Wintle (30 off 57 balls) added some respectability on the scoreboard, although it appeared as though the 136-run target would be tough for the Bobtails to defend. In reply, the Blues barely got out of second gear, racing to 1-139 off 30.2 overs, with Slodecki blasting 13 boundaries throughout his unbeaten knock of 74.