WBCA 2022: Northcliffe defeat Manjimup at Collier Street Sporting Complex last Saturday

Northcliffe secured the win against the undefeated Manjimup side at Collier Street Sporting Complex last Saturday during round six of the Warren Blackwood Cricket Association.

The game was held on the astro wicket following heavy downpour on Friday, leaving the main turf out of action. However, this did nothing to dampen the efforts of the away team who started off strong during the first innings.

Both openers captain Jason Treasure (48) and Wayne Smeathers (37) did their job well to start the match.

Northcliffe managed 69 runs before the fall of their first wicket.

With the introduction of returning star Dan Bayman (48), the away team caused many headaches for Manjimup’s bowlers.

Following the Bayman wicket, Northcliffe struggled to gain any more momentum, losing their last five wickets for three runs and finishing their first innings with a respectable 169 runs.

Josef Parkinson and Jack Muir worked hard to put Manjimup back in the game, taking three and two wickets each respectively.

Despite a doable 169 runs to chase, Manjimup got off to a bad start during their innings, losing their first five wickets for just 36 runs.

In a desperate attempt to bring Manjimup back into the game, Luke Murphy (60) and young star Rohan Barber (17) managed to push the score forwards for the home side.

However, after the fall of Barber at 6-87, Manjimup lost three for three, forcing Northcliffe into a near certain victory.

Matthew Boreland (9no) and Murphy almost brought Manjimup home late in the day. However, after Murphy’s wicket, the home team finished 27 runs shy of the total.

Dan Bayman backed up his batting efforts with a beautiful spell of bowling claiming four for 18 from nine overs.

Manjimup remain top of the ladder despite the loss, followed by Forestry, Bridgetown, Northcliffe, Pemberton and Boyup Brook.

Next week marks the first week of WBCA’s new fast-paced T20 competition which will be held throughout December.

Games will be held at Boyup Brook oval between Boyup Brook, Manjimup and Bridgetown Cricket Clubs, and Pemberton Oval between Pemberton, Northcliffe and Forestry Cricket Clubs, and will see each team play two games across three timeslots — 9:30am, 12:45pm and 4pm — on Saturday.

The T20 matches will culminate in a T20 grand final held on December 17 at Collier Street Sporting Complex, with games returning to the regular 45-overs on January 7.