Finalists Whalers topple Giants
In what was the last game in the home and away season before the finals, Whalers won the toss against the Giants and elected to bat.
Whalers started strong, pushing the ball around the ground before a couple of wickets from James Seidel left them two for 104 at the drinks break.
After the break the wickets began to fall with Garth Stalker making a handy 21 before a Whalers collapse.
Fast bowler Jack Kelly picked up a hat trick, leaving Whalers all out at nine for 181 after 45 overs.
The best batsmen for Whalers were Wes Mongoo, who made an illustrious 74 and Nathan Smith 31.
For the Giants, Jack Kelly took a nice four for 27 and James Seidel took two for 27.
The Giants went out to bat and looked to make amends until a couple of quick wickets fell, leaving Ben Roberts and Jack Kelly to steady the ship.
After the wicket of Ben Roberts the only batsman to make double figures was Mark “Muddy” Forbes with 16. The Giants were all out nine for 93 after just 18.4 overs.
Best batsmen for Giants were Jack Kelly with 30 and Ben Roberts with 18.
Garth Stalker took three for 18, Fraser Daly, Wes Mongoo and Ryan Atherton all took two wickets for Whalers.
Results of this game leave Whalers — who are supported by the Carnarvon Hotel — out on top and heading straight through to the Grand Final.
Gascoyne in good grace for finals
Gascoyne Cricket Club has warmed up nicely for the finals of the Rio Tinto Shield after a comfortable 72-run win against the Triple Cs at Hillside on Saturday afternoon.
Gascoyne won the toss and made a strong start with opening batsmen Darren Hutchins and John Nuttall.
Nuttall was caught behind by Paul Wilson off the bowling of Marc De Sousa.
Hutchins continued to an impressive 38 before he was clean bowled by Luke De Sousa.
A 49-run partnership between youngster Brett Byron and Marius Shepard put Gascoyne in complete control before Byron was caught on the boundary for a well-compiled 43.
To the CCCs’ credit they did trigger a 6/28 collapse but veterans Max March (18) and Raymond Bilcich (17) helped Gascoyne post a highly competitive 8/178 off their allocated 45 overs.
Craig Carson was the pick of the bowlers with 3/25 but CCCs’ bowling cause was not helped with 25 wides.
With the bat, CCCs were immediately in trouble, as left-armer Al Holtham dismissed both Marc De Sousa and Carson to leave the boys reeling at 2/15.
Despite a fighting 36-run fourth wicket partnership between Paul Wilson and Andrew Durmanich, CCCs folded meekly at the end to record their fourth loss from the past five games.
Next week the two teams will square off in a preliminary final with the winner progressing to take on the Whalers in the grand final on Sunday, February 22.
