EGCA fires on all cylinders in country week rout of West Pilbara

Alex Jago grabbed five wickets on Monday that laid the foundations for the Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association’s emphatic first A-section victory of the country week series by nine wickets against West Pilbara.

After his three overs on the opening day against Geraldton yielded 0-15, Jago roared back in 6.1 overs against West Pilbara with 5-11.

His dynamic spell was supported by Harry Merritt-Blann’s 2-19 and Harrison Wheatcroft, captain Bevan Bennell and Cooper Bennett grabbed a wicket apiece that restricted West Pilbara to 92 in 33.1 overs.

In reply, EGCA openers Waqar Ali Ahmed and Aarib Tareen Khan adopted aggressive tactics while cruising to 0-53 after six overs.

Khan was eventually dismissed just short of the target for 30 off 35 balls.

However, Ahmed (not out 42 off 42 balls) and Bennell (not out 13 off three balls) guided the EGCA to 1-98 in the 14th over.

It was a big revival by the EGCA after losing Sunday’s opening match against Geraldton.

Among West Pilbara’s top-eight batters, Jarvis Hurley’s 15 from 60 deliveries led the way before No.10 Mitchell Munro top-scored with 16 off 27 balls.

It continued a rough start to the carnival for West Pilbara, who were also dismissed for 92 on Sunday in a loss against Busselton-Margaret River.

In B-section, Hilton Hardman blasted an unbeaten 88 off 62 balls in Esperance’s 5-215 against Eastern Districts.

It included five fours and five sixes and in reply, Eastern Districts slumped to 5-57 after 26 overs.

Esperance’s D-section team were 3-107 after 27 overs in their clash on Monday after Great Southern earlier made 6-221.

Also contesting D-section is the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Cricket Association, who faced a big batting assignment after Bunbury compiled an imposing 209.

Mitch Wallace led the KBCA’s attack with 3-13, but the side slumped to 6-83 in reply.

The EGCA’s second team, contesting E-section, got two-wicket hauls from Stuart Kennedy, Mitch Gray and Jake Basire in a win against Peel who made 123.

In reply, Goldfields skipper Alex Jerrard and Ash Malec guided them to a commanding 2-102 in 13 overs.

Jerrard eventually departed for 47 off 38 balls, but Malec was not out 47 from 29 deliveries in the EGCA’s 3-125 that secured a seven-wicket victory.

Esperance’s third team in E-section conceded 8-197 against Upper Great Southern and were 4-80 after 20 overs in reply.

A rest day applies on Tuesday.