GSCA 2025-26: Harry Taylor smashes double century for Kojonup, James Barritt does the business for Bandicoots

A double century from Harry Taylor helped Kojonup rack up a mammoth 340-run victory over Australs North as the Great Southern Cricket Association’s Bendigo Bank Shield resumed on Saturday after the mid-season break.

Taylor bludgeoned 218 runs from 131 balls, smacking 10 sixes and 17 fours as the Cougars reached 8-381 in their 45 overs, piling yet more misery on their winless opponents in Kojonup.

On a high-scoring weekend, James Barritt, newly returned from country week, also got in on the runs as Broomehill tackled Tambellup.

He walloped an unbeaten 122 to ensure the Bandicoots set Tambellup an impossible target in the meeting between the league’s top two.

To Taylor first, though, who came in after the Lions had made a double breakthrough in dismissing openers Geoff Pethick (4) and Bon Lucev (14).

He promptly set about destroying the Lions bowlers, with help from Matthew Marinoni’s 77 and Lachlan O’Shea’s 26.

He was finally dismissed, caught by David Potter off the bowling of Zavier Potter.

If the Lions are looking for positives in a 340-run defeat, it’s that – Taylor aside – their bowlers caused all sorts of problems for the others at the crease.

Their batting, however, was below par as they were dismissed for 41 with only one batter reaching double figures.

In the top of the table clash between the Bandicoots and Tambellup, James Barritt took just 120 balls to notch his best effort of a season where he has averaged 32 at the crease over his 12 matches.

His 16 fours and two sixes on his home turf helped the ladder-leading Bandicoots post 5-218 in their 45 overs, leaving their nearest rivals with a mountain to climb in Broomehill.

Tambellup gave it a good go but fell 30 runs short despite a noble effort from Connor Hawkins who was firing on all cylinders before he was bowled for 77 by Lewis Barritt.

While Lewis Barritt might have nabbed the key wicket, he was expensive and finished with 2-65. His brother James also took the bowling plaudits, taking 2-5 off two overs.

The Bandicoots had won the toss and batted, getting off to an inauspicious start as Jack Batchelor (8) and Max Jordison (7) went cheaply.

Up stepped James Barritt who did all the dirty work, with minor contributions from Ben Holmes (27), Lewis Barritt (19) and Brayden Webber (12no) who finished off the innings with a six and a single off the last two balls.

The Tambellup response did not start well as Flynn Cristinelli (4) and Devon Cristinelli (9) were both caught off James Barritt’s bowling.

Hawkins survived the loss of five partners, Daniel Nazzari proving his most able sidekick with 34, before he was dismissed to leave Tambellup on 8-174.

Bayley Drew did his best for the losing side, cracking 27 off 19 balls but the visitors were all out for 188.

In the competition’s other match, Katanning Wanderers dispatched Kendenup for 141 in just 28 overs but fell short in their reply to lose by 12 runs.

Batting first at Quartermaine Oval, Seb Ballard with 30 from 27 balls and Clinton Gilbert with 47 off 42, were the best of the Kendenup batters.

Braydon Keley was the best of the Wanderers’ bowling, taking 4-53, just pipping Brock Green’s 3-40.

Adam Edwards snaffled three victims from behind the stumps and then proved to be the king of the Tigers’ chase with a contribution of 70 runs.

Edwards had to dominate the strike as his partners fell away, the last eight batters scoring 15 runs between them.

Ryan Bedford was best with the ball, taking 3-10, with youngster Beau Sobey also on fire with 3-18 and the experience of Gilbert (3-33) helped remove the home side for 129.