A Boyup Brook century sees them push past Northcliffe in run-fest match

Cricket was the winner when Warren Blackwood resumed after a three-week break, with nearly 500 runs scored as Boyup Brook beat Nothcliffe on their own turf.

Boyup Brook won the toss and chose to bat first, and even though David Cronin (5-59) was able to take two early wickets for Northcliffe, the scoring rate was moving along nicely at a run-a-ball.

When Boyup lost their second wicket with the score at just 25, captain Tristan Mead (100) came to the crease and along with Braydon Ridley (32) got their team’s innings right back on track for an imposing total.

Mead was striking the ball as clean as ever, making full use of the fast paced outfield, as well as going the aerial route at times, hitting four sixes.

Much to the relief of the home side, Mason Abbott (1-47) had him caught behind by new wicketkeeper Tobyn Fitch-Rabbitt, who did an admirable job behind the stumps all day.

From that point on, Northcliffe were able to stem the flow of runs and take regular enough wickets to restrict the score to 263.

Cronin had a hat-trick chance in the final over as they cleaned up the tail.

Josh Miller (46) and Todd Carroll (34n.o.) were the other standout contributors with the bat.

The start of Northcliffe’s innings was much the same as Boyup’s.

Jason Treasure (79) and Wayne Smeathers (15) were able to get up to the required run rate right from the start, with timely boundaries in the early overs easing the pressure.

The score was 44 when Smeathers nicked one behind to Mead at slip and that sparked a run of regular wickets being taken by the away side.

Northcliffe were still able to tick the score over enough to stay close to the required rate throughout this time, but the regular fall of wickets was a worrying sign.

At 7-155, it was shaping as a tough ask with a lot being left to the tail.

But Asa Lamb (40) and Dave Macdonald (21) put on a 48-run partnership to help keep the home side in with a sniff of victory.

But when their stand came to an end, so did Northcliffe’s hopes, with the final two wickets falling quickly, the home side bowled out for 219.

Carroll (4-44) was the pick of the bowlers for Boyup Brook.