Pingelly-Noonebin on top

Pingelly-Noonebin maintained their perfect season, resuming after the mid-season break with a ninth straight victory as they beat Towns by 32 runs in Saturday’s top-of-the table Upper Great Southern Cricket Association clash. With four rounds to play, Pingelly-Noonebin have all but secured the minor premiership extending the gap between themselves and Towns in second place to 16 points as a result. UGSCA country week players Tom Blechynden and Dylan Kirk led the way with the bat as their side posted 6-192. Kirk joined Blechynden at the crease with the side on 2-68 and they produced a classy partnership worth 59 runs. Blechynden was dismissed for 68 off 106 balls, which included six fours, as Pingelly-Noonebin moved to 3-127. Kirk continued to score despite losing partners at the other end and he was unbeaten on 60 from just 61 balls as his side set their opponents 193 to win. Impressive early spells from Pingelly-Noonebin dented Towns’ winning hopes. Towns slumped to 7-103 and looked out of the game before middle-order batsman Liam Sweeney along with the tail provided some resistance. The last four batsmen put on 57 runs to get their side to 160. Blake Heil the last batsmen to go when he was run out on seven. Sweeney made a brave 55 but Towns were 9-158 when he was out and all hope of an upset was gone. Brock Page, Jesse Heywood and Cameron Hill all claimed two wickets each for the winners.