Superb all-round efforts of Sam Richardson prove the key against Kendenup as Broomehill remain undefeated

Broomehill secured their fifth straight win in the Great Southern Cricket Association as the all-round efforts of Sam Richardson helped them defeat Kendenup on Saturday. Richardson made 65 and then snared three wickets in a man-of-the-match performance to guide his side to a 20-run victory in Kendenup. Broomehill are yet to lose a game this season and sit two games clear on top after round five. However they had to recover from a shaky start to post a total of 8-178. Darcy Burcham removed openers Jack Batchelor and Steve Irvine cheaply, before Lewis Barritt was caught out leaving Broomehill struggling at 3-22. When Ethan Caldwell fell for 17 Broomehill slipped into even more trouble but Richardson came to the rescue. Richardson and Brant Dennis added 31 before Andrew Gibbons joined Richardson at the crease, combining for a further 83 runs. The pair scored freely as they took their side into triple figures. Richardson was eventually removed for 65 from 59 balls in an innings that featured eight fours and a six. His dismissal triggered a collapse to to end the innings. Gibbons made a valuable contribution with 39. Burcham finished with 3-32 off nine overs while Jeremy Groves was vital with 2-14 off his nine and Keegan Berry snared 2-43. Scott Hillman and Jared Beech got Kendenup off to a positive start with a 36-run opening stand but Beech was dismissed for 14 and then Burcham was trapped in front without scoring. Richardson got the wicket of Clint Gilbert but Hillman kept the scoring pressure on, adding 46 with Keegan Berry. It was Richardson who stepped up again, trapping Hillman in front moment after he notched his half century. Hillman hit eight fours in his knock of 51 from 74, leaving his side at 5-105. Kendenup continued to creep closer to victory until they lost 4-14 to crumble to 8-139. Grove and Tristan Ballard provided some late resistance but Caldwell removed both of them to bowl out Kendenup for 158 with 21 balls left. Richardson was expensive going for 43 runs but he took three big scalps while Batchelor (2-16), Gibbons (2-34) and Caldwell (2-28) were important.