Wandering lose final game but hold off Williams to cling onto fourth spot in UGSCA A-grade competition

Wandering suffered a five-wicket loss in the final round of the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade season but they managed to hold on to fourth spot and a finals berth.

Only four points separated third to fifth place on the A-grade standings going into round 14 on Saturday but Wandering left the door ajar for fifth-placed Williams after their loss at home.

Batting first, Wandering finished on 8-174 from their 45 overs, led by Carl Garrick.

He anchored the innings with 68 from 87 balls to help his side recover from 4-41.

They passed 100 before Garrick was caught and bowled by Kacey Beard.

David Parsons added 23 late runs and Lewis Parsons chipped in with 16 to help the home side set Pingelly-Noonebin 175 to win.

Beard snared 3-31 and Callum Giles-Morton was the other multiple wicket taker with 2-22 from six overs.

Openers Tyson Kirk and Jack Blechynden fell cheaply in the run chase but it was Dylan Kirk who powered Pingelly-Noonebin to victory.

Kirk blasted 83 from 103 balls, continuing his superb season, to help his side chase down the total with two overs to spare.

He was unbeaten and shared in a 65-run stand with Luke Kirk, who made 31, as they passed the target five wickets down.

Opener Bill Schorer was the pick of the bowlers for Wandering with 2-28 from his 10 overs.

Williams caused a major upset, knocking off top team Lake Grace, but they were not able to jump into the top four.

Lake Grace batted first at Williams and made 7-133, thanks to 65 from Kalan Joyce and 30 from Kael Gray, but it was Mitch Hogg who returned outstanding figures of 4-8 for Williams.

Strong top-order contributions helped Williams record a seven-wicket win, led by Broc Titko (36) and Rodney Ford (30no) as they passed the total in the 42nd over.

In the other A-grade fixture Cuballing ripped through the Harrismith batting line-up, skittling them for 67.

Brock Francis did the damage with 6-24 and his side lost only three wickets in the small chase, securing victory in the 19th over.