.png)
Big scores and batting collapses were the key themes of week one of round seven of WA Premier Cricket.
The competition’s pace-setters Scarborough are in great shape against Bayswater-Morley at Hillcrest Park, with the Gulls needing another 95 runs for victory with nine wickets in hand.
In a rare Premier Cricket appearance, speedster Lance Morris (3/26 from 10 overs) was the standout with the ball for the visitors as they dismissed the Bears for 194 in 57 overs, with Cooper Connolly (51* from 72 balls) and Josh Mason (40* from 106 balls) looking in good shape in reply with the bat.
Perth continued their brilliant batting form by producing a total of 8 for 323 against Rockingham-Mandurah at Retravision Stadium.
English import Ben Geedes (95 from 168 balls) set the innings up before the competition’s leading run-scorer Jonathan Wells (101* from 107 balls) took full toll in the final session, with Burrage brothers Aaron (4/74 from 21 overs) and Damien (3/61 from 19 overs) battling hard for the Mariners.
Fremantle made the biggest score of the weekend, putting a massive 7 for 348 on the board against Subiaco-Floreat at Floreat Park.
A monster 214-run opening stand between Douwtjie Hoogenboezem (126 from 197 balls) and Kaiden Cookson (112 from 240 balls) was the backbone of the Port Boys’ effort, while Chris Hansberry (4/122 from 38 overs) got through a mountain of work for the Lions.
Midland-Guildford require another 83 runs to defeat Willetton with seven wickets in hand at Lilac Hill.
The Dragons made a bright start in defence of their subpar score of 172 by reducing the Black Ducks to 3 for 41, but an unbroken 49-run fourth-wicket partnership between Liam Trevaskis (36* from 48 balls) and Dylan Sharman (26* from 85 balls) saw the hosts through to stumps.
South Perth had a day out against Gosnells at Sutherlands Park, bowling the hosts out for 62 before posting a score of 9dec for 232.
Liam Dallimore (7/35 from 14 overs and 38 from 26 balls) and Alex Bevilaqua (3/25 from 12 overs and 60* from 57 balls) ran riot with both bat and ball for the visitors, who will need to take 10 wickets before the Hawks score 158 runs to secure an outright win next week.
University have all but sealed a win over Mount Lawley at James Oval, with the Students sitting at 2 for 175 in response to the Hawks’ total of 179.
A succession of batters failed to kick on from promising starts for the visitors as Ethan Frankle (5/17 from 6.4 overs) was the destroyer with the ball for the hosts, before their gun batters James Bracey (63 from 87 balls) and Will Bosisto (62* from 82 balls) got them to within inches of victory.
Claremont-Nedlands are situated at 1 for 7 in response to Joondalup’s 258 at Cresswell Park.
Jake Zsilinszky (95 from 145 balls) and Jake Gerrans (54 from 152 balls) led the way for the Centurions, before the ever-reliable Joe Inglis (1/2 from 2 overs) picked up a wicket in the four second-innings overs before the close of play.
Melville made their way to a total of 9 for 242 against Wanneroo at Tompkins Park.
Tom Cullen (63* from 163 balls) and Fraser Hay (59 from 101 balls) both raised the bat for the Storm, while Mathew Dzodzos (5/47 from 19 overs) was the star with the ball for the Roos.
IMAGE: Supplied