Norths get home by three wickets in keen battle of B-grade’s top two

North Kalgoorlie assumed outright leadership in the Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association’s B-grade standings when Tex McLeod’s unbeaten 76 on Saturday led an impressive victory against Great Boulder.

The teams went into the clash at Wallace Park locked on six wins, but it was Norths who emerged in the box seat for an automatic grand final berth with four rounds of qualifiers left when they prevailed by three wickets.

After Norths were set a modest 157 to win, they started the run chase shakily at 1-0 and 2-12 before McLeod and Ryan Macdonald got the innings back on track.

Macdonald made 18, and McLeod’s innings comprised 89 balls for nine boundaries and a six.

Captain Glenn Gascoyne contributed 19 off 11 balls in Norths’ 7-158.

Earlier, Jaxon Clynk snared 5-17 and Macdonald took 2-28 that restricted Great Boulder to 156 in 34.3 overs.

It was another great display by Clynk, whose genuine all-rounder status culminated with a maiden ton at last month’s junior country week series in Perth.

The Two Blues’ innings started at 1-12 before Kody Kelman (64 off 70 balls; five fours; four sixes) and Brock Reilly (27) put on 91 runs.

Scott Edwards contributed 30 off 26 balls, but they quickly lost 3-14 and the last five wickets tumbled for just 16 runs.

In the other match, Tim Healey grabbed 5-21 and made 48 runs in Lake View’s win by eight wickets against Hannans.

After Hannans compiled 99, the Viewers cruised to 2-101 in 19.3 overs on the back of Healey’s eight boundaries and Matt Ruly’s unbeaten 38 off 41 balls.

Ruly struck seven fours in his innings and Maaz Hassan top-scored for Hannans earlier with 29.

Round 12 will be played this Saturday when Hannans go up against Great Boulder and Lake View oppose Norths.

Ladder:

North Kalgoorlie 30 points; Great Boulder 26; Lake View 18; Hannans 14.