Northam Cricket Association 40-over competition continued over the weekend with three games over two days featuring five teams. Round five had two games on Saturday.
Toodyay hosted Bakers Hill at the town oval and the visitors would rue missing an early chance from both Aaron Waters and Steve McCormick as the two would form the backbone of an imposing total of 5/214, sharing a partnership of 181.
Waters was finally dismissed for 92, including six fours, while McCormick remained unbeaten on 84, including eight fours. Matt Jankauskas (2/33 from nine overs) and Matt Turner (2/25 from eight) toiled hard.
Bakers Hill posted a respectable 164 all out thanks to an opening knock of 58 from Paul Clune, ably supported by Matt Jankauskas (34) and a late order knock from Brayden Beck (26).
Bakers were restricted by the bowling of Dylan Borrett with impressive figures of 5/36 from 9.4 overs and Raj Singh with 4/26 from six.
The other Saturday game at Bert Hawke 1 featured the two sides from last year’s grand final.
Ballardong won the toss and sent Grass Valley in to bat. Their innings never really got going despite handy contributions from Glenn Smith (21) and Bailey O’Driscoll (23).
Jermaine Davis Snr (3/26) and Dean Winsor (3/24) shared the spoils.
A total of 103 can present a tricky chase but Ballardong accounted for it in the 30th over and finished on 167 from 40 overs.
Jermaine Davis Snr (45), Davis Jnr (32) and Matthew Stokes (24no) made sure of the outcome.
Glenn Smith was the pick of the bowlers with 2/35 from nine. Ballardong remain undefeated, atop the ladder.
On Sunday, Grass Valley backed up for their second game of the weekend, clashing with Grass Valley Green at Bert Hawke 2.
Green had never beaten the older brother side but an upset beckoned as Grass Valley won the toss and chose to bat.
Tight bowling and fielding had Grass Valley losing wickets at regular intervals and all out for 72.
Louis Page was impressive with the new ball (1/6 from nine) having celebrated his 18th birthday the night before.
Other notable performances were Callum Norrish (3/15), Gary Bignell (2/3), Fletcher Page (2/11) and Caleb Austin (2/12).
Grass Valley was never going to give up as the contest heated up at the start of the second innings.
Boasting a formidable opening attack, the pace, bounce and swing of Sam Moir and Bailey O’Driscoll troubled the Green opening batsmen.
Eventually the pressure tolled, when Moir produced a double breakthrough, finding the wafting edge of Louis Page and immediately trapping Gary Bignell with a delivery that required no review. The next delivery and hat trick ball sailed wide and was left well alone.
The new batsman Callum Norrish (19) steadied the innings but his dismissal brought Connor Sergeant to the crease with Green 4/38 in the 16th over.
Two more wickets would fall before the drinks break, one on the last ball courtesy of the incredible athleticism of Rhys Byfield taking a soaring catch off his own bowling.
Byfield gave Grass Valley the edge in the contest with 3/17 and leaving Green reeling at 6/53.
Grass Valley returned to their strike bowlers after the break with immediate effect, reducing Green to 7/54. The one constant was Connor Sergeant (35no) who scored regularly to take Green beyond the total.
The competition continues with another full weekend of cricket for round six. Saturday sees Grass Valley v Toodyay at Bert Hawke 1 and Ballardong v Grass Valley Green at Bert Hawke 2.
Sunday sees Bakers Hill host Ballardong at Bakers Hill.
To have your sport results featured in the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt Advocate contact contributed content journalist Simon Orchard at simon.orchard@fairfaxmedia.com.au.