BDCA defend 161 against Great Southern on back of superb bowling

The Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association sealed a gritty 57-run win over the Great Southern in Sunday’s B-Section Country Week opener at Abbett Park. Played in blustery conditions, the BDCA looked on course for defeat periodically during the clash, and were dismissed for 161. However their fortunes did a 360-degree turn by the end of play, on the back of inspirational bowling from Zane Verhaaf (Dalyellup Beach) and Shehzad Gondal (Leschenault). Aware his side did not have a lot of runs to play with, Verhaaf (2-18 off 18 overs) bowled like his life depended on it, with 11 of his overs maidens. Gondal (6-58 off 18 overs, five maidens) was equally impressive, as he helped trigger a 4-1 Great Southern batting collapse midway during the run chase. Earlier in the day, it was the BDCA who appeared on the back foot, with Nathan Willmott (5-34 off 15 overs, five maidens) ripping them to pieces. Willmott began his spell like a whirlwind, snaring 3-3 off his first five overs — three of which were maidens. Reeling at 5-34, the BDCA needed a spark, and they got one through some composed batting from Brian Hughes (50 off 66 balls) and Blaze Rosinski. (45 off 80 balls). Although both men were not afraid to take on the Great Southern bowling, they methodically went about their business. One lighter moment during the BDCA innings occurred when a towering six from the duo narrowly missed a father nursing a Subway sandwich on a grassy bank in the shade. The man waited for a nearby Great Southern fielder to collect the ball, as he jokingly said he did not know whether the sandwich sauce would constitute a performance enhancing material.