Porters down Wanderers by nine runs

Nine runs. That was the final margin in the grand final of the senior grade competition in the Port Hedland Cricket Association, played at Kevin Scott Oval last Saturday night between the undefeated Port Hedland and Wanderers cricket clubs.

Port captain Chris Briody won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first.

Briody and Kev Johnston opened up for the Porters at a brisk rate, scoring at around five an over and putting up a half century stand, broken when Mitchell Paine enticed Briody to play across the line and lofting a catch to mid-wicket to the safe hands of Wanderers’ skipper, Michael Mobilia.

Left armer Chris Vrossink bowled four tidy overs, and together with Chris Wichura had both Johnston and Port number three, Jarrad O’Dea back in the sheds within two runs of each other.

A 50 run stand between Glenn Robertson and Sam Mason restored the run momentum in favour of the Blues, before they were both quickly dismissed, again within an over of each other.

Steady hands from Wayne McDonald, Arron Hamilton and Ryan Ibbotson guided the defending champions to an impressive 9/191 from their allotted overs.

Wanderers’ chase got off to a shaky start as left armer Rhys Colreavy trapped opener Paine in front leg before wicket for just one.

Mobilia joined Wayne Stokes for a 61-run stand before Stokes went for one lofted shot too many, skying into the deep to the safe hands of Mason off Robertson, departing the crease with 42 runs against his name.

Mobilia and Matthew Bloxsidge continued to pressure the Port bowlers and fielders as they also rattled on a 60-plus partnership.

Mobilia finished his innings on 43 as he holed out to Robertson off Jarrad O’Dea’s bowling with the team score at 138.

The introduction of leg spin from the “Hamilton Hilton” end dried up the scoring as Mcenrith Enoch bowled seven straight overs conceding just 19 runs.

Despite Bloxsidge’s best efforts, the green machine fell just nine runs short of the target. Enoch’s spell earned him the player of the final medal.

In the women’s competition, the season finished with a scheduled 35-over game between the Comets and the Shooting Stars.

Despite recent good form the Comets were all out for just 81 runs with Sarah Miller top scoring with 15, batting at number 10.

Bree Wilson was the chief destroyer with the ball taking four for 11 from three overs. Kristy Morgan, Riley and Sophie Marlow were the only batters required for the Shooting Stars to pass the Comets’ score, doing so in the nineteenth over.

The PHCA men will take a break over the Labour Day long weekend before resuming on Friday week with the second half of the T20 competition for the Ray Stoddart Shield.