WBCA: Forestry prove their dominance after defeating Northcliffe by 157

Forestry defeated Northcliffe by a whopping 157 last Saturday, proving their dominance in the 2022-23 Warren Blackwood Cricket Association season.

With Northcliffe missing some of its frontline players — including captain Jason Treasure — the task of coming up against ladder leaders Forestry was the club’s biggest challenge to date.

In Treasure’s absence, Dean Macgregor was given the captaincy role and, with plenty of help from Dan Bayman, slotted in seamlessly.

Experienced opening bowlers Bayman (1-28) and Ash Gunning (2-63) kept the scoring rate in check early.

Forestry openers Daniel Ward (59) and Kallan Fall (54) put on a strong opening stand of 92, respecting the good ball and putting it away when it was in their zone.

It took until the 18th over to break the partnership, when Jaymon Macdonald (1-38) trapped Ward LBW.

From that point on, Northcliffe was able to take a steady stream of wickets, with Forestry’s batters offering chances by playing their shots.

Duncan Wells (60) was the mainstay out in the middle, with others batting around him.

Forestry finished their innings on a strong total of 7-267.

For Northcliffe to have any chance of chasing the imposing total down, their top order would need to do most of the work which did not turn out to be the case.

Making the trip down from Perth, Leon Ewing (13) got off to a flying start with the bat but his stay at the crease was cut far too short for the home side’s liking, edging one to the ’keeper off Brock Tempra (4-47).

Tempra bowled beautifully, accounting for all of Northcliffe’s top four batsmen.

Bayman (43) played a real leader’s knock and did his best to take it as deep as possible for his team.

After the fall of the sixth wicket, it became a family affair at the crease, with young bowling star Jamon MacDonald (18) joining his dad Dave MacDonald (23).

The father-son duo put on a 31-run partnership, the highest for Northcliffe on the day.

Forestry chose to share the bowling duties around, offering young Lawson Ward (0-18) an opportunity. He worked into his five-over spell well, finishing it off with a maiden.

The family batting continued after Jamon Macdonald was dismissed, with younger brother Harper Macdonald (0) striding out to join his old man, sharing a lovely photo opportunity halfway to the pitch.

Unfortunately, Dave Macdonald wasn’t able to hang around long to bat with his boy but Harper acquitted himself well after that, facing 18 balls before finally being dismissed.

Northcliffe was bowled out for 110.

Forestry will take on Pemberton this Saturday at Pemberton Oval, while Boyup Brook will get their chance to contest Northcliffe in a bid to finish in the top four before the finals.