BDCAW: Donnybrook book place in grand final with 28-run win over Colts

Donnybrook have booked their place in the Bunbury & Districts Cricket Association women’s A grade final with a 28-run win over Colts at Egan Park.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat but did not get away to a good start, with the dangerous Amber Boyd pinned LBW in the first over by Lily Finlay.

The game looked firmly in the balance at 3-59 when the experienced Lisa Smith departed for 15, but Donnybrook managed to build a strong score of 5-145 from their 30 overs thanks to contributions from Stephanie Jolly (35 from 35 balls) and Jessica Basillo (29 not out from 37 balls).

Colts quickly found themselves in all sorts of trouble in the chase, with two quick wickets for Summer Towers and a run out resulting from a risky quick single seeing them slump to 3-7.

Emma Brasser (37 from 52 balls) looked to steady the ship, but only managed to sky Boyd when looking to press the accelerator, leaving her side at 5-72.

The task proved too big for the lower order and the innings eventually ended on 117, with Towers (3-20 from five overs) and Boyd (3-20 from four overs) having great days with the ball.

In the elimination final, Leschenault suffered a heartbreaking three-run loss to Marist in a high-scoring thriller at Leschenault Recreation Reserve.

Katie Ernst carried her bat to make 49 not out from 88 balls with good support from Ebony Bilcich (30 from 39 balls) as Marist posted a total of 5-170 batting first, with Ella Harrison (2-19 from six overs) the best of the bowlers for the hosts.

The competition’s leading run-scorer Hollie Perkin quickly got to work in the chase, carrying on the good early work of Bec Campbell (46 from 51 balls).

Siobhan Wilson (1-40 from five overs) stepped up in the penultimate over to grab the critical wicket of Perkin for 73 from 68 balls, leaving two new batters at the crease in the game’s final stages.

With Leschenault requiring seven to win, captain Gabrielle House assumed the responsibility of bowling the final over and came up clutch, conceding only three to bowl her side into the preliminary final, where they will take on Colts.