Country Cricket Championships wrap: Geraldton teams with mixed results during round 2

Geraldton’s teams experienced mixed results in round two of the Country Cricket Championships in Perth, with the No. 1 side scoring a big win against Busselton Margaret River.

But the seconds went down to Great Southern in their second match following their first up win over Newman.

After Geraldton A-section’s round one win over Eastern Goldfields on Sunday, skipper Ringo McKenna won the toss on Monday morning against Busselton Margaret River and elected to bat.

Jeremy Bedford shone with an impressive 55 runs off 67 balls, combining with Zane Marwick’s 53 off 86, for a 92-run partnership.

Geraldton’s vice-captain Jay O’Brien also contributed with the bat with an unbeaten 28.

With the match again reduced to 40 overs due to heat management, Geraldton finished at 6-181.

An impressive show of bowling was the key to Geraldton’s second win of the tournament, with all bowlers walking away with at least one wicket.

Marwick was the pick of the bowlers, choking Busselton Margaret River of runs and finishing with 2-9 off seven overs.

Zak Williamson (2-10 off three overs) and Jarrod Jupp (2-12 off five) were the other two who impressed.

Geraldton rolled Busselton Margaret River for 80 runs. Geraldton A-section are now two from two, with one game to play against West Pilbara on Wednesday before finals.

Geraldton B-section, on the other hand, had a tough time with a lack of batting depth, falling to Great Southern.

Great Southern won the toss, sending Geraldton into bat, with Gus Heberle standing out with 40 runs along with Tom Witt (21).

Geraldton 2s skipper Kade Gillingham also contributed with that bat with 24.

They faced a tough task against Great Southern’s captain Liam Want who produced a stunning bowling spell of 7-33 off seven overs.

Geraldton was all out for 138 after 38 overs.

Great Southern’s top order got the job done within 33 overs with James Barritt (43), Want (44 not out) and Clinton Gilbert (26no) the highest scorers.

Geraldton bowlers did their best to stem the flow of runs with Mitch Marsh the pick of the bunch, finishing with 2-19 off eight overs.

Mitchell McAuliffe the only other wicket-taker with 1-18 off three overs.

Geraldton’s B-section team have a must-win game on Wednesday against Bunbury and Districts if they want to advance to finals later in the week.