Clinton Gilbert century sets up Kendenup for their fourth win of the season to consolidate second spot

A dominant century from Clinton Gilbert has helped Kendenup consolidate second spot on the Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade ladder on Saturday. The 82-run victory in round nine was Kendenup’s fourth of the season as they handed the cellar-dwelling Australs their seventh loss of 2022-23. Kendenup won the toss and elected to bat first, and it proved a big toss to win as Gilbert and Cameron Walsh enjoyed a 46-run opening stand. Walsh (6) was removed by Trent Hamon before Darcey Burcham (18) fell next. Kendenup lost two quick wickets with Sebastian Ballard (0) and Benny Oldfield (5) departing to leave them at 4-120. Gilbert continued to score freely with wickets falling around him, reaching his first ton of the season before being he was eventually caught for 106. Contributions at the back end of the innings from Matthew Gilbert (36), Maxwell Wright (15) and Callum Gribble (11) helped Kendenup post 9-236 from their 45 overs. David Potter (2-17), Andrew Gibbons (2-30) and Darcy Middleton (2-53) did well with the ball for Australs. A 54-run opening partnership between James Douglas (44) and Middleton (12) gave Australs early confidence before Callum Gribble crashed through the defences of Middleton. Phillip Pink was the next to go for a duck, which brought Crawford Bolto to the crease. Crawford Bolto (10), Jonty Bolto (25), Andrew Gibbons (14) and Kris Norris (8) added to the scoring but Australs could not lift their run rate, falling well short of the required total to finish at 5-154. Sebastian Ballard (3-36) was the only multiple wicket taker for Kendenup in an economical bowling display. Meanwhile Tambellup won their third game of the season through excellent bowling from Nathan Willmott. A week after his century against Australs, Willmott shone with the ball in the second innings to finish with figures of 4-26. He took the all-important wickets of openers Naime Siniva (13), Elijah Quartermaine (10) and then snared two more as Wanderers were skittled for 114. Earlier in the innings, Tambellup’s Connor Hawkins (47), Flynn Cristinelli (67) and Jedd Herbert (51) dominated the Wanderers bowling attack to help post 3-277 in 45 overs. Ryan Sinclair (1-27) and Harry Harris (1-28) were the only wicket takers for Wanderers as they slumped to their fourth loss of the season. The GSCA now breaks for Christmas and new year.