GSCA 2024-25: Liam Want belts half century in first T20, Katanning claim derby spoils over Australs North

A swashbuckling innings by Kojonup skipper Liam Want ensured the Cougars got their long-awaited grand final retribution over Broomehill Bandicoots in the Great Southern Cricket Association opener on Saturday.

The aggressive opener had no issue adapting to the new white ball in the first T20 of the season, bashing the Bandicoots bowlers to all ends of the park in Katanning to finish with 88 runs from just 50 deliveries in a commanding 10-wicket victory.

Chasing 114 for victory, Want rapidly ate into the less-than-par total set by the Bandicoots with his powerful strokes contributing 12 boundaries including six sixes, the last bringing up the victory in just the 14th over.

Geoffrey Pethick was unbeaten on 22 at the other end as the Cougars made the perfect start to the new season.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Cougars looked set to rue the decision to send in the reigning premiers after Jack Batchelor plundered a quickfire 46 from 25 balls at the top of the order.

At 3-83, the makeshift Bandicoots quickly learned the volatile nature of T20 cricket, suffering a major batting collapse where they lost their final seven wickets for just 33 runs, three coming in leg spinner Peter Robertson’s final over.

Robertson ended with 3-17 from his four overs and a fortuitous run-out off his own bowling and Nathan Smith picked up 2-30 from his four overs while Harry Taylor picked up the vital wicket of Batchelor.

Young English international Max Jordison scored an inventive 23 runs in his first match on Australian soil.

A complete bowling performance helped Katanning Wanderers to a derby win over Australs North by nine wickets at Quartermaine Oval.

Lions Englishman Archie Atwell made an immediate impact in his new colours, belting 40 from 23 balls at the top of the order with two of his eight boundaries clearing the rope.

However, the Lions were starved of other contributors with David Potter (17 runs) the only other double-figure scorer before they were rolled for 91 in the 17th over.

Five of the Tigers’ six bowlers snared wickets with captain Ryan Sinclair leading the way with a stellar 3-4 while English recruit Joe Raynor chipped in with 3-20.

Combative Tigers opener Brock Green made light work of the run-chase with 50 from 35 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes in his knock that quickly ripped the result from the Lions grasp while Tyron Pinney anchored the innings with an unbeaten 22.

In the final game of the round, a destructive 76-run third-wicket partnership handed Kendenup a brilliant seven-wicket victory over Tambellup in Kendenup.

Young Kendenup run machine Jakob Douglas scored a game-high 54 runs with two sixes from his five boundaries while skipper Clinton Gilbert partnered him superbly with an unbeaten 46 that consisted of seven boundaries.

After winning the toss and sending their opponents in, Kendenup found frequent wickets with tight economical bowling spearheaded by Samuel Bunny’s 4-27 from four overs.

Tambellup’s Connor Hawkins scored a well-made 33 from 18 balls with three fours and two sixes before falling to Jethro Wright (2-18) and Paul Groves made 31 from 32 deliveries.