Cricket: Colts back on top

Colts climbed back to the top of the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association First Grade points table after cruising to a comfortable victory over Harvey-Benger at the Bunbury Recreation Ground on Saturday.

The reigning champions carried toomuchdepth for Harvey-Benger, overhauling their opponent’s total of 99 for the loss of just three wickets.

Young guns Clayton Caltsounis continued his successful season with figures of 4-16 off six overs while Josh Topliss (2-22) and Cruize Ciallella (2-2) were also among the wickets.

Master batsman Ian Prosser led Colts’ batting charge with 57 not out as they reached the target in the 23rd over.

In other games, Marist consolidated their spot in the top four with an upset three-wicket victory over Collie while Dalyellup Beach kept in touch with the finals race when they accounted for Hay Park by 43 runs.

Leschenault blitzed Capel by 103 runs in a bottom-of-the-table encounter. Marist continued their surge after a slow start to the season with a strong statement against Collie, knocking the league leaders off the top of the ladder and themselves taking a stranglehold on the top four.

The result puts Marist within striking distance of second-placed Collie on the points table.

James Sprague continued his vein of recent form with a masterful 79 but with Collie missing several key players, including prolific skipper Blair Malatesta, they could muster just 170 runs on the lively Forrest Park East pitch.

Sprague added a tidy haul of 2-19 off 10 overs in a man-of-the-match performance but it was in vain as the Blues cruised past that tally for the loss of seven wickets.

At Hay Park, promoted Dalyellup Beach Settler Grant Eikelboom put up a fine man-of-the-match performance in only his second First Grade fixture.

Eikelboom smashed a spectacular six in a tailend cameo to help swell the Settlers’ tally to 9-204 after Sri Lankan Madura Weerasinghe-Silva had defied the Redbacks’ attack for more than 20 overs to post a solid top score of 46 in a batting list that saw seven players record double figures.

Then, with the ball in hand, Eikelboom took 4-28 off seven overs as the home side crashed from a sound 63-run start to be all out for 161.

Meanwhile, young guns Kurt D’Agostino (47 runs and 2-19) and Josh Parker (84 runs and 2-7) were the toast of Leschenault on Saturday, spearheading their beleaguered side to a handsome 103-run victory over Capel.