Defending premiers Pingelly-Noonebin to defend title after Williams fail to fire in preliminary final

Pingelly-Noonebin knocked Williams out in straight sets of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade finals after finishing comfortable winners in the preliminary final last Saturday.

The defending premiers prevailed over Williams to book their place in this Saturday’s grand final against Cuballing and keep their hopes of back-to-back titles alive.

Williams bowed out in straight sets after only losing one game in the regular season and finishing on top of the ladder.

Batting first, Pingelly-Noonebin posted a match-winning total of 5-209 and then, courtesy of a five-wicket haul from Cameron Hill, restricted Williams to 120.

Captain Tom Blechynden smashed 59 off 44 balls to set up the win and was well supported by Tyson Kirk (46), Jacob Sounness (30 not out) and Brett Blechynden (25) as they got past 200.

Brock Titko was the only Williams bowler to claim multiple wickets finishing with 2-31 off seven overs.

Williams had the big task in front of them to chase down the total on their home oval but their top order failed to fire, leaving them on the back foot.

When captain Rodney Ford fell for eight, quickly followed by opener Robert Rose, the home side slumped to 4-68.

Williams were never able to recover as they lost 8-56 to be bowled out for 120 in the 39th over.

Hill starred with the ball for Pingelly-Noonebin taking 5-22 off 9.2 overs while Callum Giles-Morton snared 2-15 from his seven overs.

Rose top scored for Williams with 35 and Titko added 16 at the top of the order but their dominant season came to an abrupt end.

Meanwhile, Boddington recovered from their second semifinal loss to book their place in the B-grade grand final after chasing down Wagin’s total in the preliminary final on Saturday.