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Invitational XI impress coach

Michael TraillNarrogin Observer
Eastern Goldfields’ Bevan Bennell made 88 for WA Country Invitational XI.
Camera IconEastern Goldfields’ Bevan Bennell made 88 for WA Country Invitational XI. Credit: Picture: Michael Traill, Michael Traill.

Narrogin’s Clayton Road Oval has played host to the first round of a pilot revival of the Country Cup.

On Sunday, Albany Cricket Association’s best travelled to Clayton Road Oval to face the WA Country Invitational XI side.

Williams’ Rodney Ford and Harrismith’s Arron Quartermaine represented the Upper Great Southern in the new 50-over round-robin competition.

Both performed well. Ford was run-out on 26 while Quartermaine (23) chased down the 225-run target with Eastern Goldfields’ Bevan Bennell (88).

WA Country Invitational XI ended their innings on 4-226 off 45 overs after restricting Albany to 8-224 after batting their full 50 overs. Albany’s top order collapsed early in the first innings, losing five wickets for six runs to go 5-28 in the 10th over.

WA Country Invitational XI coach Tim Edmunds said that the revived competition brought a high concentration of quality players together.

“We want the best cricketers playing inter-association cricket and while this competition is only in pilot mode being brought back the signs are really good so far,” he said.

“The players really enjoyed the revival of one-day country cup cricket.

“It’s rare you get that much talent assembled for a game in country WA and the players really lifted for the occasion which was really pleasing.

“Clayton Road Oval is a great venue and the hospitality provided for both teams was great.”

Edmunds also said that the Upper Great Southern players played important roles in the win.

“The way we went about the run chase was really pleasing,” he said.

“Fordy (Rodney Ford) and Quarters (Arron Quartermaine) provided great support for Bevan Bennell who anchored the innings superbly and those partnerships were crucial to us winning comfortably in the end.”

WA Country Invitational XI will take on Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association this week and the Busselton Margaret River Cricket Association later on in November.

The top two sides of the four will face off at the WACA in December.

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