Cuballing leap from bottom spot with gritty win over Wandering in round six of the UGSCA A-grade competiton

Cuballing have jumped off the bottom of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade ladder after a successful run chase against Wandering handed them their second win of the season on Saturday.

Bevan George led from the front in the round six result, smashing an unbeaten 85 runs off 99 balls.

Chasing 181 for victory, Cuballing secured the result with 17 balls to spare, handing Wandering their third straight defeat.

Joe Dowling (28 runs) and George opened the innings with a 42-run stand before Dowling was caught off the bowling of Bailey Parsons on 28.

Grady Francis added to the scoring before he departed on 22 and Michael Moore followed him to the pavilion shortly after with Bryan Hardie snaring both their wickets.

But Cuballing reached their target at the cost of just four wickets in the 43rd over with George whacking three boundaries from the last nine balls of the innings. George’s match-winning knock included eight fours and one six in a classy performance with the bat.

Hardie was the pick of the bowlers for Wandering, taking 2-18 while Bailey Parsons (1-45) and Lewis Parsons (1-26) also chipped in.

Earlier in the innings, Wandering were in a good spot at 3-127 following handy scores from Jacob Schorer (39) and Benjamin Sherry (46).

Bailey Parsons added 42 runs but economical bowling spells from Francis (1-32), who bowled three maiden overs helped keep the run rate down as Wandering posted 7-180.

Moore (3-20) and Dowling (2-27) also shined with the ball in the last UGSCA fixture of 2022.

The other two A-grade fixtures were forfeited due to harvest.

Towns won on forfeit over Pingelly-Noonebin and Williams won on forfeit over Lake Grace.