Mixed results for Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-section side, while C-section finish third

A campaign with mixed results for Upper Great Southern Cricket Association at this year’s country week tournament earned them fifth position overall in the A-section. UGSCA managed just two wins from their group stage games but finished strongly, triumphing in both play-off fixtures including a 113-run belting of West Pilbara Cricket Association in the fifth-place playoff. Half-centuries to both Bailey Parsons (51) and Ben McMillan (56), before retiring, helped steer their side to an enormous first innings total of 234 after their 20 overs at Rosalie Park on Friday. McMillan’s sensational knock came from just 23 balls and included four fours and six sixes. Skipper Arron Quartermaine chipped in with 36 as the other key contributor. In response, UGSCA opening bowlers Joe Dowling and Byron Blevin had the ball on a string, combining for the first three wickets as WPCA slumped to 3-7. WPCA’s Jaxon Gordon provided some late fireworks by hitting four sixes on his way to 33 from 24. UGSCA’s Matthew Trevenen then cleaned up the tail with two wickets from his five balls. Ben McMillan finished fifth in the runs tally for the competition with 147 at an average of 36.75, including a half-century. Liam Sweeney was UGSCA’s leading wicket-taker with seven wickets at 11.29. UGSCA 2 side secured a four-run win in their third-place C-section play-off over Esperance Cricket Association 2 at Gwynne Park in Perth on Friday. ECA 2 needed just eight runs off the final six balls to snatch victory, but UGSCA’s Johannes De bruyn stepped up to the crease with ice in his veins. After bowling four dot balls and conceding only three runs off the over, UGSCA claimed a memorable victory. De bruyn, Wouter Jacobus Moolman and Jason Quartermaine each took two wickets. UGSCA 2 posted 140 in their batting innings and were off to a flyer in their defence, claiming three ECA 2 wickets for 25. But John Bruechle’s vital knock of 58 handed ECA 2 a lifeline. His superb innings came from 52 deliveries and included three fours and a maximum. After winning the toss and electing to bat, Jason Quartermaine top-scored with 25, while Ryan Taylor finished unbeaten on 22 to close out their batting innings.