Bridgetown secures big win

Bridgetown secured a 209-run victory over Manjimup in round 12 of the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association at Collier Street on Saturday. The hosts won the toss and sent Bridgetown in to bat on the hard and fast wicket. Bridgetown openers Matt Tassos (31) and Hugh Mitchell (76) put on a stellar 108-run partnership for the first wicket, before Tassos was caught and bowled. Mitchell’s time at the crease included 14 fours, before he was stumped for the second wicket to put the store at 2-121. The visitors’ early batting order then failed to put any significant numbers on the board, then Brayden Watkins (68) came in to steady the side’s score. When Watkins was bowled, the score was at a much more defendable 252. Bridgetown’s innings with the bat finished with Simon Duncan (29 not out) and Darcy Walsh (2 not out) at the full 45 overs. Manjimup bowlers were unable to make any real difference in limiting the visitors’ strength with the bat. Bridgetown’s wickets were generally the result of poor shot selection, with the exception of Jozef Parkinson and Jonathan Millar. Manjimup’s batting was a lot harder, as the Bridgetown bowlers were their devastating and accurate selves. They did not give much and constantly took wickets. The only fight back came from Dane Raper, as the rest crumbled around him, until the removal of his leg stump from an inswinger from Mitch Clothier, and the rest followed in quick succession. A catch by super sharp fielder Duncan to take the last wicket of James Millar gave Manjimup a final score of 75 after just 25.4 overs. Duncan was also dangerous as a bowler at the weekend, claiming 3-6 off five overs, including three maiden overs. Kyle Wilson took 3-11 off 2.4 overs, Clothier took two wickets and Shane Glancy took one. Bridgetown will host Northcliffe on Saturday and Manjimup will travel to Boyup Brook for the final round before finals.