2ND GRADE

2nd grade covered themselves in Premiership glory with an eight wicket win over Midland-Guildford at Cresswell Park.

The Black Ducks won the toss and chose to bat but the Dragons started brightly, with wickets for Oliver Arkinstall and Vidit Vashisht to go with an Ethan Smith run-out reducing them to 3 for 16.

A 45 run fourth wicket stand hinted at a recovery, but an outstanding team bowling and fielding effort limited them to just 109 in 80.1 overs.

Bad balls were hardly bowled with captain Nic Geisler (2/7 from 14 overs), Vashisht (2/17 from 14.1 overs), Brock Larance (2/35 from 23 overs), and Arkinstall (1/25 from 19 overs) all giving nothing away, with three run-outs telling the tale of the pressure built.

The Dragons needed to negotiate seven overs on Saturday afternoon before stumps but couldn’t get through unscathed, with Ethan Smith departing for a duck in the second over before David Cameron and Larance saw the day out.

On Sunday morning, Larance went beserk, smacking six boundaries and two sixes in a gamebreaking innings of 61 from 38 deliveries.

An unbroken 41 run stand between Amrit Singh (32* from 50 balls) and David Cameron (18* from 75 balls) got the job done, with Singh smashing the ball to the midwicket boundary to seal the deal.

Larance received player of the match honours for an outstanding all-round effort.

3RD GRADE

3rd grade brought the flag home with a 54 run win over Wanneroo at Abbett Park.

Chris Lagana won the toss and chose to bat, with a slow wicket and outfield meaning a score of 8 for 185 from 80 overs was more competitive than it appeared.

The in-form Brennan Wilson led from the front with an outstanding 82 from 143 deliveries, with Declan Crowder (32 from 137 balls) and Ellis Cassidy (30 from 81 balls) grinding hard.

In the second innings, the Dragons fed on some boisterous support to produce a brilliant bowling effort, restricting the Roos to 131 in 59.3 overs.

Crowder (5/21 from 9.3 overs) ran through the lower order after seamers Ellis Cassidy (2/17 from 10 overs), Zac Blazevich (1/21 from 8 overs), James Scott (1/23 from 7 overs), Stewart Hepburn (1/26 from 9 overs) put the work in upfront.

Wilson was named player of the match, with his score going alongside 75 in the semi final and 94 in the elimination final.

1ST GRADE

1st grade have exited the finals in straight sets with a 125-run loss to Bayswater-Morley at Burrendah Park.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat but the Dragons made a bright start with the ball, with wickets for Matt Hanna, Zach Ferris, and the returning Oliver Arkinstall reducing the score to 4 for 63.

The Bears kickstarted their innings with a 69-run sixth-wicket partnership, eventually grinding their way to a total of 7 for 217 from their 90 overs.

It was a day for the seamers, with Hanna (3/67 from 24 overs) putting in a massive effort as Arkinstall (2/25 from 13 overs) and Ferris (1/26 from 14 overs) played their role.

Unfortunately, the Dragons had another tough outing with the bat, being bowled out for 92 in 43.3 overs.

Captain Kallen Bond (27 from 40 balls) and Blair Walsh (23* from 77 balls) made the only scores of note in the chase.

A third successive loss at the competition’s semi-final stage is deeply frustrating, but a young 1st grade group should be well set up to compete for several years into the future.

2ND GRADE

2nd grade are through to the grand final after defeating Wanneroo by 167 runs at Kingsway Sports Ground.

After winning the toss and batting, the Dragons slipped into an early hole at 3 for 25 with Brock Larance, David Cameron, and Sean Boers all coming and going, but a magnificent recovery saw a total of 316 from 89.5 overs posted.

It was a showing of strength in depth with the bat, with Jono Crowe (69 from 79 balls), Amrit Singh (69 from 159 balls), Cameron Becker (44 from 44 balls), and Lachie Lake (39 from 68 balls) all making strong contributions from the middle order.

With the ball, an amazing effort with the ball ensured the Roos were never seriously in the hunt, ending up at all out for 149 from 54.1 overs.

Becker continued a brilliant season with 3 for 21 from 13.1 overs, with Vidit Vashisht (3/50 from 14 overs) and captain Nic Geisler (2/33 from 12 overs) showing their class and all-rounders Cameron (1/15 from 6 overs) and Larance (1/27 from 9 overs) making handy interventions.

2nd grade will head to Cresswell Park for the season decider to take on Midland-Guildford.

3RD GRADE

3rd grade are into the big dance after beating Joondalup by 48 runs at Iluka Sports Complex.

The Dragons won the toss and batted but struggled to capitalise after making a solid start, ending up all out for 205 from 79.3 overs.

Brennan Wilson continued an excellent run of form with 75 from 105 balls, with Declan Crowder (30 from 72 balls) and James Scott (22* from 42 balls) also making important contributions.

With the ball, an outstanding effort limited the hosts’ highly-fancied batting lineup to just 157 from 60.5 overs.

The bowling load was shared in a similar fashion to the whole season, with Stewart Hepburn (3/13 from 10 overs), Ellis Cassidy (2/23 from 5 overs), Scott (2/29 from 9 overs), Zac Blazevich (1/16 from 9 overs), and captain Chris Lagana (1/46 from 13 overs) all chipping in.

Abbett Park will host the 3rd grade grand final between the Dragons and Wanneroo.

UNDER 17’S

Under 17’s season is over after a heartbreaking 12-run loss to Centurions at Burrendah Park.

The Dragons bowled first and made a strong start to bowl the visitors out for 116, with Jagan Singh (4 wickets), Lagan Sandhu (3 wickets), Kai D’Souza, Dulina Gamage, and Kyall Roach (all 1 wicket) all showing their quality.

In reply, the chase looked in good shape at 2 for 57, but a middle-order collapse left the score at 9 for 84.

A 20-run last wicket stand between Joel Dooner and Jevan Buckland created some hope, but the Dragons ended up just short at 104 from 39.5 overs.

Despite the loss, the under 17’s had an outstanding year, claiming a top-of-the-ladder finish and several players showing their quality in both underage and senior cricket.

1ST GRADE

1st grade put in an extremely disappointing performance against Perth, losing by 258 runs at Burrendah Park.

Kallen Bond won the toss and chose to field but the Demons’ powerful batting lineup had the best of the first day, posting a formidable total of 8 for 342 from their 90 overs.

D’Arcy Short (3/104 from 26 overs), Waheguru Dhillon (2/72 from 23 overs), Brock Larance (1/28 from 4 overs), and Zach Ferris (1/66 from 17 overs) picked up wickets for the Dragons.

Setbacks happened early and often on the second day, with the batters a long way from their best and everything going the way of the visitors as the score slipped to 7 for 29.

Luke Holt (28 from 41 balls) and Matt Hanna (22 from 24 balls) took to the long handle but a final total of 84 from 28.1 overs was a poor result.

Despite the loss, 1st grade progress to the semi finals as the highest ranked loser and will host Bayswater-Morley this weekend with a grand final place on the line.

2ND GRADE

2nd grade needed to win to keep their season alive and did so, beating Bayswater-Morley by 74 runs at Burrendah Park.

The Dragons batted first and posted a competitive total of 203 from 84.1 overs, with Sean Boers (66 from 140 balls) and David Cameron (46 from 110 balls) leading the way.

In reply, the Bears took the game deep but consistent wickets kept a lid on their innings, which eventually ended all out for 129 from 72.1 overs, with seamers Oliver Arkinstall (4/43 from 21 overs), Cameron Becker (4/38 from 15.1 overs) and Nic Geisler (1/4 from 12 overs) putting in standout efforts.

The Dragons will head to Kingsway Sports Ground to take on Wanneroo in next week’s semi final.

3RD GRADE

3rd grade kept their season alive with a 29 run win over Subiaco-Floreat at Alderbury Reserve.

Chris Lagana won the toss and chose to bat but the Dragons slipped into some early trouble at 3 for 24, with Ellis Cassidy, Ben Witschge, and Stewart Hepburn all back in the sheds.

With the season on the line, Brennan Wilson stepped up, falling agonisingly short of a hundred with a brilliant 94 from 135 balls.

After Wilson’s departure, the score was boosted further to 237 from 74.4 overs thanks to some lower order resistance led by James Andrews (54* from 103 balls) with support from James Scott (17 from 41 balls) and Jordan Hodgetts (13 from 24 balls).

On day two, the Dragons had to stay patient as the Lions got themselves to 1 for 99, but their persistence paid off as they reduced them to 6 for 115.

Tension threatened to build as the hosts put some late partnerships on the board, but the bowlers held their nerve to end the innings for 208 after 81.3 overs.

Experienced all-rounders Cassidy (3/33 from 18.3 overs) and Hepburn (3/16 from 15 overs) led the way, with Lagana (2/34 from 14 overs) and Scott (2/46 from 14 overs) playing their roles.

3rd grade will head up the freeway to take on Joondalup at Iluka Sports Complex in next week’s semi final.

UNDER 17’S

Under 17’s defeated Fremantle by 4 wickets at Fletcher Park.

Forced on the road with senior fixtures on both Burrendah ovals, the Dragons bowled first and limited the Port Boys to 145 from 44.1 overs.

Jagan Singh continued his outstanding season, claiming 5 for 26 from 9.1 overs, with Jevan Buckland (2/11 from 4 overs), Kai D’Souza (2/21 from 8 overs) and Dulina Gamage (1/22 from 8 overs) also bowling well.

Rajat Deshmukh (62* from 127 balls) anchored the chase from the top of the order as the Dragons got the job done with 50 balls to spare.

Under 17’s will be back at home next week to take on Centurions, with the winner progressing to the grand final.

1ST GRADE

1st grade won the Kevin Sullivan Silver Cup with a dramatic one wicket win over Midland-Guildford at Burrendah Park.

Kallen Bond won the toss and sent the visitors in, with the bowling innings getting away to a perfect start with Ben Gibbon grabbing a wicket from the first ball of the game thanks to a glove down the leg-side.

Matt Hanna and Brock Larance claimed wickets to go with a brilliant run-out from Iszak Milentis in the covers to plunge the visitors further into trouble at 4 for 33.

The Black Ducks rebuilt with a 51 run fifth wicket that was eventually broken by Luke Holt, with the Dragons rolling through the lower order to end the innings for 127 after just 33.3 overs.

Hanna (3/12 from 6.3 overs), Gibbon (2/32 from 8 overs), Larance (1/10 from 2 overs) and Holt (1/30 from 5 overs) all did their part, with Kallen Bond also coming up with two run-outs from point to cap off a brilliant fielding effort.

In reply, wickets came early and often, with the Dragons slumping to 5 for 16 as Bond, D’Arcy Short, Milentis, Shayne Wornes, and Larance all came and went

The innings was rebuilt with a 45 run sixth wicket partnership between Blair Walsh (21 from 29 balls) and John Sanders (28 from 59 balls), but the departure of the two set batters alongside Holt and Hanna meant the game was just about gone at 9 for 83.

Against all odds, the Dragons managed to pull off the great escape, with an unbroken 47 run last wicket stand between Gibbon (35* from 42 balls) and Guru Dhillon (9* from 42 balls) securing a top of the table finish and creating a perfect send-off for the English import.

2ND GRADE

2nd Grade took care of Midland-Guildford at Lilac Hill, winning by 68 runs.

Nic Geisler won the toss and batted but the Black Ducks made a decent start to reduce the score to 3 for 46, before the batting innings was set up by a 128 run fourth wicket partnership between Oliver Arkinstall (80 from 94 balls) and Sean Boers (72 from 94 balls).

Some late fireworks from Liam Hindle (38* from 21 balls) further lifted the score to 9 for 247 from 50 overs, with the Dragons putting the ball over the fence ten times.

With the ball, Zach Ferris (3/24 from 10 overs) took care of the top order, Vidit Vashisht (4/30 from 10 overs) rolled through the middle order, and Arkinstall (2/44 from 7 overs) capped off his day with some lower order wickets as the hosts slumped to 9 for 107.

A 72 run last wicket stand caused some frustration but the innings ended at 179 after 42.4 overs, with Cameron Becker (1/58 from 9.4 overs) picking up the last wicket.

3RD GRADE

3rd grade got over Midland-Guildford by 4 wickets.

The Black Ducks posted 7 for 173 from their 45 overs after batting first, with Zac Blazevich (3/18 from 7 overs), Declan Crowder (2/32 from 6 overs), James Scott (1/17 from 9 overs) and Jordan Hodgetts (1/38 from 9 overs) the wicket-takers.

Kyall Roach (50 from 77 balls) and Ben Witschge (36 from 34 balls) got the innings away to a good start before Chris Lagana (27* from 31 balls) and James Andrews (18* from 37 balls) stepped up late to win the game with 18 balls to spare.

4TH GRADE

4th grade ensured a clean sweep of senior wins with a 7 wicket win over Midland-Guildford.

The Dragons restricted the Black Ducks to 9 for 167 from their 45 overs after bowling first, with Arnav Pimple (4/37 from 9 overs) the best of the bowlers with support from Ian D’Souza (1/18 from 5 overs), Jagan Singh (1/18 from 7 overs), and Aaron McCall (1/20 from 9 overs).

A young batting lineup got the job done with 14 balls to spare, with Zaid Buckland (70 from 107 balls) leading the way from the top of the order as Blake Stephen (29* from 36 balls) and Brayden Lee (26 from 78 balls) also made important contributions.

UNDER 17’S

Under 17’s beat Midland-Guildford by 7 wickets in a T20 fixture at Burrendah Park.

After the Dragons sent the Black Ducks in to bat, they were routed for 60 inside 16.4 overs, with Kai D’Souza (4/17 from 4 overs) and Lagan Sandhu (3/6 from 1.4 overs) dominant and Luke Herbert (1/7 from 2 overs), Kyall Roach (1/11 from 4 overs) and Dulina Gamage (1/14 from 3 overs) all chipping in.

The chase was not easy, but Blake Stephen (23* from 30 balls) stepped up to help the Dragons over the line with 27 balls to spare.

UNDER 15’S

Under 15’s ended their season with a 7 run loss to Midland-Guildford at Lilac Hill.

The Black Ducks batted first and posted 7 for 99 from their 20 overs, with Mitch Hole (2/8 from 4 overs) continuing his excellent season as Ayush Sarin (1/9 from 3 overs), Tom Dobson (1/18 from 3 overs), Luca Boden (1/22 from 4 overs), and Isaak Wittkuhn (1/34 from 4 overs) all played their role.

Jayden Kleyweg (45 from 56 balls) led the batting effort from the top of the order but it unfortunately fell short, ending at 5 for 92 from 20 overs.