The West Robins have ensured they’ll hold onto top spot on the 2023/24 Barrier District Cricket League (BDCL) A-Grade ladder heading into the Christmas break following a seven-wicket victory against the Central Magpies at Jubilee Oval on Saturday.
Central won the toss and elected to bat first, tracking along nicely until opener Clinton Jones (11 off 15) was caught by Mackenzie Attard off the bowling of Colby Stenhouse (2/22) to end the fourth over of the day.
When Sheldon Hall (eight off 12) fell as the second batter to depart for Central, it started a collapse of 7/36. With the Magpies reeling at 8/77, Darcy Cullen (35 off 72) put the foot down to be the side’s top-scorer come the end of the innings which saw the Magpies all out for 111 and Max Everuss the pick of the Robins’ bowlers with figures of 3/26.
West’s reply saw opener Jordan Meehan play a lone hand with an unbeaten 74 runs off 92 balls that included 11 fours and a six as only one other batter – Paddric Attard (10 off 11) – making it to double figures. In the end, West chased down the target in 28 overs for the loss of three wickets, each taken by individual Central bowlers.
“To go into that Christmas break looking pretty good, it’s a good feeling. It sets us up really well for [the] resumption of the season coming into the new year,” West captain Mackenzie Attard told the Barrier Truth of his side’s form heading into the four-week break.
“We had a couple of bowlers out this week which sort of hurt us a little bit, but we always find a way to overcome those things and other people step up, which is good.
“Plugger [Jordan Meehan] was brilliant. He just went out there looking to bat time and that’s what he did. Once you get yourself in, it’s hard to get out, especially in Broken Hill cricket, you get yourself out, so he batted really well.”
BDCL A-Grade fixtures resume for the second half of the season on Saturday, January 13. West will face North at Alma Oval, while Central take on South at Jubilee Oval. Both matches get underway from 11am.
