GSCA 2024-25: Kojonup lose elimination final but Tambellup bid to reach final ended with prelim washout

Tambellup were denied the chance to play for a grand final berth after the Great Southern Cricket Association preliminary final was abandoned due to rain.

In Saturday’s elimination final, Tambellup emerged four-wicket winners over Kojonup to advance to Sunday’s preliminary final against Kendenup.

However the game was washed out without a ball being bowled in Kendenup, with overnight and morning rain ruining the chance of any play.

Kendenup have progressed to the grand final as the highest ranked team after finishing second on the ladder and will at get another crack at reigning premiers Broomehill.

The Cougars won the toss and batted first in the elimination final, losing Jamie Young (2) early on.

Geoffrey Pethick made 29 from 71 balls, skipper Liam Want smashed four boundaries in his rapid 33 and Travis Abbott added 31 but their lower order crumbled.

The Cougars lost 7-65 to be all out for 142 on the final ball of the innings.

Jedd Herbert was superb with 4-35 from nine overs and opening bowler Nathan Willmott bowled nine overs for just 12 runs.

Connor Hawkins (2-19) and Shane Willmott (2-20) also claimed multiple wickets to put the visitors in the box seat.

Abbott claimed the first three scalps, Herbert (5) and Hawkins (3) going cheaply while Flynn Cristinelli made 22 before he was given out lbw.

Contributions from Devon Cristinelli (14) and Shane Willmott (28) helped Tambellup close in on victory but Nathan Willmott proved the difference with an unbeaten 34.

Tambellup had only four wickets in hand when they reached the target in the 43rd over but Nathan Willmott’s 95-ball innings was exactly what was required to help his side progress.

Abbott gave everything in defeat, returning figures of 4-41 from nine overs while Jason Campbell (1-35) and Matthew Marinoni (1-16) also took wickets but the Cougars winning drought in finals continued.