Taverners triumph after touching tribute

The Dampier Taverners and Karratha Kats played a tense match in blustery conditions at the aptly named Windy Ridge at the weekend.

After paying their respects to Phillip Hughes, openers Jack Napier and Geoff Spence got the Kats off to a slow but steady start.

Napier never looked in complete control and Arthur Ramirez eventually got him out as the first wicket fell for 54.

Mitch Davey fell just two runs later, but the next partnership between Spence and Warwick Durack was solid, Durack providing the entertainment as Spence's total steadily built towards 50.

The partnership was broken as the score passed 150, Spence falling for 67.

A quick-fire cameo from Craig Ford picked up the pace late in the game, but Durack fell eight short of his half century.

Having been set 184 for victory, Doug Holt and Bradley Goes set off in similar fashion to the Kats openers, patiently building a foundation for the team to sit on.

Holt fell for 14, but Goes passed 200 runs for the season on his way to an entertaining 79 off 89 balls.

Geoff Shingleton provided valuable support for Goes with a 22-run cameo but it was almost not enough.

Ford was handed the ball and had an immediate impact, removing Goes as the Taverners looked to be cruising to victory.

Ford then ripped through the middle order to have the home side teetering at 9-168 and handing him career best figures of 6-35.

A staunch final stand from numbers 10 and 11 Ramirez and Mathew Watkins pulled the Taverners' over the line though, with the final runs coming in the last over.