A record eighth-wicket partnership of 129 by Mitchell Fisher and Joel Connell set up a 90-run win by Western Suburbs over City United at Robins Oval on the weekend.
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Fisher and Connell’s partnership saw the Plovers recover from a disastrous 7/100 to finish on 249 and with all the momentum going into Sunday’s day-two action.
Wests paceman Luke Kealy picked up where his teammates left off and ripped through City’s top order to leave them reeling at 4-22.
Riley Harrison joined the party and dismissed City skipper for 13 and at 5/34 City were in all sorts of trouble.
Just as Connell and Fisher had done, all-rounders Michael Heinrich and Nick Bower staged a recovery which ended when Bower tried to push for a second run on the arm of Wests best fielder Mark Copus and was run out for 35.
Heinrich received some support from the lower order and was eventually dismissed for 73 by Connell as City were all out for 159 in the 66th over.
City skipper Matt Trappel said Wests had outplayed his side and were able to seize control in key moments.
“It was a terrific partnership by Mitch and Joel to turn things around from 7/100 and it turned the momentum of the game around completely.
“Instead of closing it out when we had a chance and getting them out cheaply we were forced to stay out in the field.
“To be all out for 160 is very disappointing. It was a far better wicket than 160. Once you were in there were plenty of runs to be made.”
City appeared to be cruising to first innings points and a chance to set up up an outright, when Bower took his fourth wicket dismissing Riley Harrison caught and bowled for three, the Plovers were reeling at 7-100 in the 46th over and looking like spending 20 plus overs in the field.
However, Fisher and Connell set about restoring Wests innings with vigour.
When Connell was bowled for 63 by Tim Burton the score was 229 with six overs remaining.
Fisher continued to attack the City bowling and was eventually out for 84, caught by Matt Trappell off the bowling of Burton, to end in an innings that included eight four and two sixes and had seven fielders on the boundary in an effort to stem the runs.
Bower picked up his fifth wicket catching Glyn Hayes off his own bowling to finish with 5-77.
In other matches, East almost pulled off an unlikely victory after Kurri Weston chased outright points needing to score 181 off 25 overs.
Some dogged second innings batting including 80 by Josh Hicks and 52 by Will Stoneman kept the Warriors’ push for an outright at bay and runs and overs started to make the equation more difficult.
Kurri Weston pushed for the points and looked shaky with seven overs remaining before pulling down the shutter and finishing on 7/123.
Thornton took their chances and Norths blew theirs as the Thunder maintained their unbeaten start to 2019 winning by nine runs at Lorn Park on Sunday.
Chasing Thornton’s total of 231, Norths appeared to have the upper-hand with the score on 6/200 and plenty of overs to bat.
But Thornton maintained the pressure and Norths contributed to their own downfall with rash shots and they lost their final four wickets for just 22.
It was a game of some outstanding individual performances highlighted on day one on Saturday with a six-wicket haul by Norths’ Ben Sayer (6-60) and innings of 95 by Thornton’s Peter Gabriel and 48 to Dan Willis.
On day two Norths opener Mitch Nolan made 71 and Jordan Callinan 38. Thornton shared the wickets with Willis picking up 3-37 and two-wicket bags to Brent Dawes (2-29), Jamie Krake (2-21) and Jake Reeves 2-6.
Thornton are now equal on 47 points at the top of the table with City United, with Norths dropping from third to fifth equal on 37 points with Wests
Port Stephens had a day to forget collapsing to be dismissed for 64 after bowling Raymond Terrace out for 123 on day one of their two-day encounter at King Park 5.
Raymond Terrace lost 6-8 slumping from 4/115.
Liam Eveleigh wrapped up the tail to pick up 4-24 and Joel Magnee was the pick of the bowlers taking 2-15 from 19 overs including 11 maidens.
Port had resumed on 3/15 but were unable to capitalise with Daniel Upward claiming 6-29 and Cameron Bates two wickets to complete the rout.
The victory sees Raymond Terrace jump to fourth on the table with 38 points and Kurri Weston move to third on 41 points.