Deserved premiership for Pingelly-Noonebin

Pingelly-Noonebin won their first A-grade premiership in the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association since 2006-07 after easily defeating grand final opponents Wandering by six wickets at the Pingelly Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon. The victory capped a superb season for Pingelly-Noonebin, who won 10 of their 12 regular season games and downed Wandering in last week’s second semifinal. Pingelly-Noonebin won the toss and sent Wandering in to bat in the grand final, and they had early joy when Carl Garrick was run out for three. Key Wandering batsman Lincoln Joy and No.3 Ben Sherry steadied the ship, but when Matthew Durmanich trapped Sherry lbw, it was the start of a collapse. Joy dug in, but the wickets fell around him, as Wandering lost 4-8, and then when Dylan Kirk had Joy stumped, they were on the ropes at 7-67. Pingelly-Noonebin quickly knocked over the tail as Kirk finished with 4-12 from his eight overs and Durmanich was also terrific retuning figures of 4-30 from eight overs. Wandering were bowled out for 79 despite a fighting knock from Joy (39 runs from 50 balls). Early wickets were going to be the key in the small run chase and Joy stepped up to remove Jack Blechynden on four and Pingelly-Noonebin were 2-13 when Bryan Hardie bowled Brett Blechynden (2). That became 3-26 when Bailey Parsons clean bowled Dylan Kirk on seven as Wandering continued to apply the pressure. Tom Blechynden was able to survive the early carnage as he produced a vital knock to get his side across the line in the 40th over. It was tough going as Pingelly-Noonebin lost Cameron Hill on 14 but Tom Blechynden finished unbeaten on 35 from 105 balls to get his side to 4-81 and deliver premiership glory. Tyson Kirk was at the crease with Tom Blechynden when Pingelly-Noonebin scored the winning runs. Meanwhile in the B-grade grand final, a polished batting performance from Boddington helped them defeat Wickepin by 25 runs. Boddington won the toss and batted first against the home side and their top order all got starts to help set a difficult total to chase. Chris Sjoberg (39), Mick Sherry (35), Leigh Gardner (22no) and Shane Miller (21) helped Boddington reach 5-162 from their 40 overs while David Bennier was the pick of the Wickepin bowlers with 2-27. Wickepin were 2-21 early in the chase before Tyron Miller and David Wilson shared in a 53-run stand. Wilson fell on 35 and when Miller departed soon after for a patient 28 off 91 balls Wickepin were in trouble at 6-107. Michael Green provided some late resistance but Boddington were crowned champions after bowling Boddington out for 137 in the 39th over. Mick Sherry took 4-29 in the victory and Brown chipped in with 3-29.