GSCA 2023-24: Broomehill batters fill boots against Kojonup, Tambellup make light work of Australs

Broomehill’s batters dominated in a crushing win over Kojonup to secure the Great Southern Cricket Association minor premiership on Saturday, while a clinical Tambellup thumped Australs. Four half-centuries underlined Broomehill’s commanding 65-run win at home over Kojonup as the hosts made 310, 152 of which came in boundaries. The vibrant uprights were barely rattled in the annual Pink Stumps Day for the McGrath Foundation as Broomehill’s Kyle Potter, Mac Crichton, Lewis Barritt and James Barritt reached milestones in a big first innings total. Jack Batchelor crunched 37 at the top of the order, including five fours and one six, as he and Potter put on 56 for the opening stand. When Kojonup’s Ash Sexton sent Batchelor back to the pavilion, Potter (54) welcomed Crichton (62) to the crease to add a further 51 for the second wicket. Potter’s wonderful innings came from just 43 deliveries and included five fours and two maximums before he went one too many times and was stumped off Peter Robertson (1-59). Lewis Barritt added to the runs frenzy with 65 as he and Crichton combined for a brilliant 109-run third-wicket stand. After Matthew Cant (2-36 off five overs) claimed Crichton’s scalp, James Barritt joined his brother at the crease for an unbeaten 55 from 43 balls in yet another substantial partnership of 43, as they finished 4-310 from 45 overs. In their defence, Broomehill produced a collective bowling performance that restricted Kojonup to 8-245. Five bowlers were among the wickets, with pacers Ethan Caldwell and Lewis Barritt claiming two each. Lewis Barritt was at his economical best with 2-35 from nine overs, strangling the Kojonup batters in trademark fashion through the middle overs. Kojonup’s Harry Taylor (39) and Nathan Smith (30) provided some resilience with a 64-run fifth-wicket partnership before Josh Matthews contributed a handy 35. Robertson added an unbeaten 31 with the tail before being swallowed by the increasing run rate. In the other game of the round, Tambellup trounced Australs by nine wickets on their home deck on Saturday. Tambellup ripped through Australs’ batting line-up, skittling them for 87 inside 29 overs before chasing it one down at the end of the 19th over. Tambellup openers Nathan Willmott and Connor Hawkins ran through Australs’ top order, each taking two wickets as the visitors slumped to 4-13. Australs’ Ryan Ballard (33) and Andrew Argyle (24) toiled through the middle for an important 53-run stand before Matt Hankinson and Devon Cristinelli knocked them over, along with the remaining four wickets, for just 21. In their defence, Australs claimed the dangerous Flynn Cristinelli (two) early through Axle Pearce before unbeaten knocks from Lachlan Bradshaw (41) and Lewis Miller (19 not out) reeled in the total with ease.