Parkers strangle Bankers Division 3
Western Park (6-117) def. Ellinbank (4-101)
A fighting 33 from Jeremy Gray wasn’t enough to carry Ellinbank over the line in their division three clash with Western Park, with some brilliant ‘death’ bowling proving the difference between the two sides.
A rapid start from Matthew Lynn (who struck several crisp cover drives on his way to 16) and some errors in the field allowed Ellinbank to build some impressive momentum early in their pursuit of 117, but the introduction of Samuel Laffy into the attack helped to change the complexion of the game.
The off-spinner strangled the scoring rate and made some important breakthroughs in a parsimonious spell of 26 from six overs, and with Kirk Dalziell providing excellent support from the other end, the run-rate skyrocketed.
Despite some lusty hitting that sent brief scares into the Western Park camp, Gray fell in the second last over of the day to ensure the Warriors would emerge victorious.
Earlier in the day, Stephen Brigg’s aggressive 28 helped Western Park off to fast start, with the ‘keeper and Daniel Hilton putting on 45 for the first wicket, and a series of cameos from the middle order helped the Warriors reach 6-117, despite Harley Stephenson causing headaches in a spell of 3-16 that had him at one stage on a hat-trick.
All other division three matches were abandoned.