Leschenault begin festive season with rain-affected victory

A superb knock from Leschenault youngster Tyne Dodds inspired his side to a patient 34-run victory over Dalyellup Beach on Saturday at Leschenault Recreation Park. On the surface, Dodds’ 81 off 111 balls looks impressive as it is — however the nature in which he was forced to go about it made it even more significant. After being sent in by the Settlers, Dodds and fellow opener Nico Le Roux wasted no time in getting down to business, and in the blink of an eye, the hosts were 0-39 midway during the seventh over. During this passage of play, Dodds was prepared to soak up pressure for his teammate, scoring one run off the first 18 deliveries he faced. Having toiled away for a number of overs for little reward, Settlers bowler Riley Mammone (2-25 off seven overs, three maidens) turned the game on its head, removing Le Roux and Leschenault skipper Matt Fink in the space of three balls. Both sides wrestled for supremacy throughout the following 16 overs, before a lengthy rain delay paused proceedings, with the Green Caps parked on 4-102. The home side added a further 86 runs from their remaining 12 overs, with Dodds in the thick of things until the very end. Chasing 189 off 36 overs, the visitors were going along nicely inside the opening 20 overs, with Mitchell Boyle and Keagan Lynch serving it up to Leschenault quicks Jacob Templeton and Brody D’Agostino. Unfortunately for the visitors, a costly collapse of 3-11 during a nine-ball purple patch swung the game into the Green Caps’ favour, with Kris Cumming (3-17 off six overs) the chief destroyer.