BDCA 2023: Eaton hang on against Dalyellup in remarkable first-grade thriller finale

When his side needed someone to stand up and make a winning difference against Dalyellup on Saturday, Eaton Bobtails seamer Jacob Wintle grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck.

Despite going for 23 runs in his first four overs, Wintle (4-55 off 10 overs) returned with a vengeance at sunset, instigating three wickets — including a trademark run-out — in his final two overs, which ensured the Bobtails secured victory by one run.

Following their loss to Collie a week earlier, the Bobtails knew a win at Dalyellup College would place tremendous pressure on Donnybrook, who were expected (and subsequently defeated) to fall against Leschenault away from home.

With big-hitting Julian Crudeli and James Hillery seeing the ball well out in the middle, Eaton finished on 7-231 off 50 overs — and with their headline bowling unit, many would not have tipped the home side to run down the score.

However cricket contests are played on grass, not paper, and Dalyellup produced arguably its finest performance of the season.

Even with Crudeli, Wintle, Liam Renton and Clayton Caltsounis prodding and poking at their resistance, Jake Bennett (70 off 92 balls), Cody Ryan (56 off 55) and Keagan Lynch (37 off 81) were not overawed by the challenge.

After flying high at 1-105 in the 28th over, the visitors began to chip away at the Dalyellup batting card, which led to a thrilling finish at dusk.

Given the ball in the final over with the home side needing eight to win, Wintle’s first delivery was carted to the boundary rope by Zane Verhaaf.

Aware he could still make a difference, a ball later Ty Verhaaf left the crease after he was brilliantly run out by the Bobtails marksman.

On the final ball, with the underdog home side needing one run to tie and two runs to emerge victorious, Wintle made a mess of Zahkiya LaMotte’s stumps, which resulted in a raptuous roar of approval from the Bobtails players.