UGSCA 2024-25: Thrilling final over win for Wickepin-Harrismith in first A-grade game, Wandering get revenge

Wickepin-Harrismith have enjoyed the perfect start in their promotion to the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade competition.

The newly formed Wickepin-Harrismith club, who won last season’s B-grade title as Harrismith-Dudinin, scored a thrilling round one win over Lake Grace on Saturday.

Played in Wickepin, the clash was a high scoring affair as Wickepin-Harrismith chased down 201 to win in the final over of their innings.

A superb 85 from opener Kalan Joyce had Lake Grace in the box seat to score a win in the opening round of the new season but the home side had other plans.

Buoyed by the inclusion of country star Arron Quartermaine, Wickepin-Harrismith emerged three wicket winners in a tense run chase.

Wickepin-Harrismith fell to 2-14 early on after Brock Pockran (2) and Tyron Miller (1) went cheaply but Quartermaine steered a successful innings.

Quartermaine scored a vital 81 from 97 balls in a match-winning innings that including nine boundaries while middle order contributions from Josh Hobley (25) and Caen Taylor (44) got the home side towards victory.

When Mitchell Smith finally removed Quartermaine in the 40th over the game was still in the balance and Smith then bowled Dane Angwin for 11 before Lake Grace snared Marty McLean for a duck with the home side still needing 10 runs to win.

Jamie Miller finished unbeaten on 22 and Cooper Bennier held up the other end for Wickepin-Harrismith as they won with three balls to spare to mark a memorable first A-grade match.

Lake Grace captain Smith did his best to haul his side over the line, returning 3-31 from his impressive spell while Brayden Reynolds (2-27) and Joyce (2-50) also snared multiple wickets.

Earlier Shaye Bowron made 45 from just 42 deliveries in support of Joyce at the top of the order as Lake Grace were bowled out for 200 in the final over of their innings.

Wickepin-Harrismith opener Roy Eatwell claimed 2-20 from six overs while Bennier (2-8) and Angwin (2-28) were also effective.

Wandering exacted early revenge on grand final opponents Williams in the other round one fixture at Williams.

Williams made 8-198 from their 45 overs, led by Uppers stalwart Rodney Ford.

Rodney Ford fell four runs short of a century, dismissed for 96 from 83 balls, while Riley Ford added 46 as they set a strong total batting first.

Wandering’s top order was up to the challenge however as half centuries from Jacob Schorer, Lewis Parsons and Ben Sherry helped secure a seven-wicket win.

Sherry was unbeaten on 59 to go with Schorer (54) and Lewis Parsons (53), while Glenn Byron made 30 as Wandering reached the target in the 39th over.