BDCA: Dalyellup and Colts looking to end slow starts to men’s first-grade season amid shift to one-day games

Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association men’s first-grade powerhouses Dalyellup and Colts will both be looking to shake off slow starts to the season as the competition shifts to one-dayers on Saturday. The two sides occupied the ladder’s top spots for the bulk of last season and played off in a gripping grand final which was won by Dalyellup in the final over. But they have both managed to win only one game apiece across a pair of T20 double-headers to open the new campaign, though their clash at Bunbury Recreation Ground on Saturday was abandoned due to wet weather. Later in the day, the reigning premiers suffered a four-wicket loss to Marist at Dalyellup College, with the Blues managing to track down their total of 6-103 from the game’s final delivery to win with four wickets in hand, while Colts fell eight runs short of Hay Park’s score of 6-111 at the home of the Redbacks. Dalyellup will host fifth-placed Leschenault — who are still searching for their first win of the season — at Dalyellup College, while Colts will head to Forrest Park to take on second-placed Marist. Hay Park, the ladder-leaders who have tasted defeat only once across the first two weeks of the season, have a bye. The women’s first-grade season will remain in T20 mode for another three weeks, with all games in round three shifted to Sunday. In what shapes as game of the day, first-placed Marist and second-placed Harvey-Benger will both be looking to maintain unbeaten starts to the season in their clash at Harvey Recreation Ground. Both sides have made impressive starts to their campaigns, with the Blues defeating Hay Park by 98 runs and Leschenault by 106 runs in their first two fixtures and last season’s second-grade premiers having a nine-wicket win over Eaton and 108-run victory against Burekup to their credit. Newly-formed Bunbury Eagles, who have also won their first two games and trail the two sides ahead of them only on net run rate, will head to Burekup to take on the Queen Bees. Reigning premiers Leschenault and Dalyellup will both be hunting their first win of the season in their clash at Leschenault Recreation Reserve. Eaton have a bye.