Karratha Kats, Dampier Taverners and Nikol Hawks score wins in round eight of West Pilbara Cricket Association

Round eight of the West Pilbara Cricket Association 40 over competition saw Baynton Lions host Dampier Taverners 1 at the Karratha Leisureplex on a beautiful but hot Saturday afternoon. Lions won the toss and elected to bat. They were in trouble early with 3/31 before a partnership between Nick Hegan (46) and Daya Gawade (22) stabilised the innings. Late hitting by Yogesh Singh (41) took the Lions to 10/170 in 37.3 overs. For the Taverners 1 Mark Saunders (3/29) and Jaxon Gordan (3/26) were the pick of the bowlers. Taverners 1 lost their first wicket early with 13 runs on the board but strong contributions from Cameron Gordan (37), James Rowlands (25) and James O'Brien (57 not out) helped Taverners to win the game by five wickets in 35.5 overs. For the Lions Ajesh Mallipeddi (1/17) and Yogesh Singh (1/27) were the pick of the bowlers. Meanwhile, the Nickol Hawks travelled out to Wickham to take on the Wallabies. The Hawks won the toss and batted first with opener Thiagarajan making 51 in an opening stand of 206 with Muhammad Uzair, who had a day out belting the Wallabies attack all over the park as he made 146 off 92. The Hawks went on to make 5/318 off their 40 overs with young Jonte Brown getting 1/31 off his eight overs for the Wallabies. The Wallabies’ chase did not start well, losing three quick wickets before Jason Mallon steadied the ship with 47. But it was never going to be enough as the Wallabies made 8/119 off their 40 overs with Aziz Saghar picking up 3 /23 for the Hawks. The Karratha Kats hosted Pegs Creek Crabs 1 with the home team batting first. The Kats made a steady start with Geoff Spence (54) and Michael James (14) putting on 70 for the opening wicket. The Crabs bowlers were then able to strike back taking five quick wickets before Dale Walkingshaw (24 not out) and Alex Devitt (31 not out) saw the Kats to 6/178 off their 40 overs with Tharindu Ilanperuma taking 3/27 off his six overs. The Crabs lost regular wickets during their chase before Jordan Perkusich (35) steadied the chase. A late partnership between Sam O’Hare (39 not out) and Ben Cattani (28) wasn’t enough as the Kats restricted the Crabs to 6/171 off their 40 overs, while Alex Devitt picked up 2/43 with the ball The Dampier Taverners 2 hosted the Rec Club. After a shaky start losing a few early wickets, Rec Club’s Liam O’Neill (24) steadied the innings along with Richard Anderson who went on to make 82 not out as Rec Club were bowled out for 187 with Jesse Adams picking up 3/37 for the Taverners. The Taverners chase didn’t really get going with Adrian D’Cunha and Scott Stuart both chipping in with 14 each before a late 19 from Jesse Adams as the Taverners 2 were bowled out for 119 with Keanu Walker picking up 3/13 for Rec Club.