Harvey-Benger second grade scores another win against Donnybrook as fourth grade stumbles against Dardanup

Harvey-Benger’s second grade continued their winning form on the weekend with a 78-run win over Donnybrook on Saturday. Captain Matt Chave won the toss and no hesitation in batting first in what looked to be a wicket that would get harder to bat on as the day rolled on. Harvey-Benger openers Haydn Jones and Joseph Cambrea got off to a solid start putting on 30 for the first wicket. Cambrea and Jones fell together inside three balls, which left Chave and Hamish Minton to go about a resurrection job on what looked to be a tricky wicket. They put on about 35 before Chave departed to leave the score at 3-70. Mahdi Saleem joined Minton at the crease and they did a brilliant job manipulating the field with boundaries and singles. Both players making 50s before being dismissed to leave Harvey in a tricky position with 13 overs to go. With able support from Francois Roelofsz and Josh Cooke, Scott Fowler was able to help Harvey muster up a a big total. Fowler at his destructive best with 61 not out off 54 balls including one over where he hit five sixes. Harvey eventually made 6-275 from their 50 overs. In reply, Donnybrook did their upmost to make Harvey-Benger feel the pressure however in pursuit of such a big total, they continued to lose wickets which halted the chase. Joryn Scarlett took 2-11 from 3.2 overs including that of the dangerous Mark Manea. He unfortunately suffered an injury which meant he had to finish early. Wickets were shared across the board with Chave, Fowler, Kye Mccreery and Brandon Hughes-Philpott all chiming in. After the 30 over mark, Donnybrook decided to block out the game to ensure no bonus points for Harvey with the final total being 7-197 off 50 overs. The side will host Colts on Saturday in Harvey with an aim to continue their winning form before the Christmas break. Harvey-Benger’s fourth grade were outclassed by Dardanup on Saturday, falling to a seven-wicket defeat at the Harvey Recreation Ground. The team won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a fantastic pitch. The home side started brightly too, reaching 1/40 before captain Rowan Morrison (20) had an inside edge roll off his pads and onto the stumps. Wickets then fell regularly in the following overs. Adrian Kirk tried to anchor the innings before falling caught to a juggling effort by Dardanup skipper Keith Charchalis for 24. A rearguard final wicket partnership between David Cooper (5) and Junior player Tyson Brass (15 not out), who rode his luck and played some nice shots, saw Harvey Benger scrape to 133 all out to end their innings. Defending a low total, Harvey Benger needed an early wicket which Cooper (1/22) provided as Dardanup opener Shannon Walker was well caught by Nicholas Blunt. There would be little joy for the hosts after that though, as a combination of good batting and some errant bowling saw Dardanup race towards the target. The late wicket of James Hawksley (84), caught behind off the bowling of youngster Tyler Bozanich, was a bright spot on an otherwise difficult day as Dardanup reached the target 3 wickets down in the 20th over. Harvey-Benger will look to regroup in the final round before the Christmas break, travelling away against Colts next weekend.