UGSCA 2024-25: Williams chases top spot with win against Cuballing, Wandering holds strong with own victory

Williams powered to a convincing eight-wicket win over Cuballing in round nine of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade competition in Williams on Saturday. The result was Williams’ fifth win of the season as they cement second place on the ladder behind unbeaten Wandering. Joe Dowling piloted the team with 33 runs from 42 balls after Cuballing won the toss and chose to bat. Dowling hit three fours and was well supported by Blair Forrest (27), Johannes De bruyn (20) and Michael Moore (20no). Williams’ skipper Rodney Ford did the damage with the ball snaring 3-13 from five tidy overs while spearhead Julian Crudeli (2-15) and Michael Forman (2-30) were also important. It was a calculated chase from Williams as their top order fired with the bat, Michael Cowcher and Forman starting steadily. Michael Cowcher was the first to fall for 23 and when Forman departed for 48, Williams were 2-92. Crudeli and Rodney Ford upped the ante, as Williams cruised to victory in the 36th over with eight wickets in hand. Ford hit five boundaries in his 37 not out while Crudeli made an unbeaten 33. Cuballing’s De bruyn and Kieran Langridge were the only two wicket takers. Towns strengthened their finals claims with a 45-run win over Wickepin-Harrismith in Wickepin. Kavindu Gamith Indeewara Chandrasena Pallik Kondage was superb for the winners, scoring 82 from 55 balls, scoring 11 fours and three sixes. Perrin Quartermaine (49) and Kade Maley (30) also played strong hands as Towns made 7-240. Wickepin-Harrismith did their best to reel in the big target, Craig Jespersen patiently working his way to 63 before retiring not out while Dane Angwin (33) and Tyron Miller (32) also got starts. Maley finished with 3-25 for Towns who restricted the visitors to 6-195 in reply. Lake Grace’s tough season continued, as they suffered a five-wicket loss at the hands of title fancies Wandering in Lake Grace. Veteran Bryan Hardie returned incredible figures of 4-1 from three overs to help roll Lake Grace for 105 batting first. Craig Shaw was the only Lake Grace player to make an impact with the bat, reaching 33 but his side’s top order failed. Brayden Reynolds (2-40) and Dylan Brooks (2-17) gave Lake Grace some hope, as they ripped through Wandering’s top order to leave them reeling at 4-20 when Blake Egerton-Warburton fell for seven. However Jordan Hughes and Ben Sherry combined for a 72-run partnership to keep Wandering’s unbeaten season intact. Hughes finished 37 not out and Sherry added 38 not out as their side passed the target in the 24th over.