Country Week Cricket: Geraldton 1’s to the semifinal while 2’s aim to avoid relegation

Geraldton’s number one country week cricket side has qualified for an A-section semifinal in Perth on Thursday against Bunbury.

If they win, Geraldton will meet either Albany or Eastern Goldfields at the WACA in Friday’s final. If they lose, they close with a T20 at Coker Park to decide third place.

Geraldton beat Busselton-Margaret River by 101 runs at Breckler Park on Monday, a day when temperatures rose from hot to infernal.

Skipper Ringo McKenna chose to bat after he won the toss and Geraldton made 6-181 off 40 overs. Jeremy Bedford (55), Zane Marwick (53) and Jay O’Brien (28 not out) top-scored.

BMR replied with 80 with wickets shared by seven bowlers. Marwick (2-9), Zak Williamson (2-10) and Jarrod Jupp (2-12) did well with Williamson taking his maiden CW wicket as did Seth Farmer.

Geraldton also played on Wednesday against West Pilbara at James Park and all but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Geraldton made 8-270 with Marwick (57), O’Brien (46), Darcy Ingle (37), McKenna (36) and Bedford (24) firing and a sparkling unbeaten 23 (10 balls) from Jupp.

West Pilbara went after the target with a 72-run opening stand led by Christy Kuruvilla (46 off 43 balls) but fell away to be 9-175.

Then last pair, Lachlan Seabrook (79 not out off 58 balls) and Craig Jones (44 not out off 30 balls) blitzed 92 runs to take West Pilbara to 9-267, just short of an amazing win.

Marwick (3-43), McKenna (2-33) and O’Brien (2-43) were the best in Geraldton’s attack.

The seconds, in B-section, lost to Great Southern at Hillcrest by seven wickets on Monday and lost by six wickets to Bunbury (2) on Wednesday at Charles Veryard. They now aim to avoid relegation.

On Monday, Geraldton was sent in and at 2-103 was well-placed with Gus Heberle (40) and Kade Gillingham (24) in the middle after Tom Witt (21) helped lay a solid foundation.

Geraldton then lost 8-35 with the last five falling for only eight runs as Liam Want (7-33) tore through them. GS lost only three wickets to win, with Mitch Marsh (2-19) enjoying success while Want (44 not out) capped off a great day.

On Wednesday, Geraldton made 167 with runs from Cody Doran (45), Gillingham (29), Archie Bougourd (22), Heberle (21), Mitch McAuliffe (21) and Jayden Pinto (18).

Bunbury replied with 6-168. Marsh again took 2-19.