Veterans in first place after toppling Golden City in latest Kalgoorlie-Boulder Cricket Association clash

Veterans have assumed a percentage lead in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Cricket Association standings after an attack spearheaded by Luke Stewart and Josh Tierney powered a four-wicket victory last weekend against a previously unbeaten Golden City. Golden City carried a three-game winning sequence into the clash at Morrison Oval but were dismissed for a season-low 67 in 23.1 overs. It was tough going from the outset for Golden City, who lost both openers without scoring in the first over off Stewart’s bowling. They safely negotiated the next five overs before Mitch Graham (11 off 21 balls) became Stewart’s third victim and first drop Michael Boucaut (17 off 23 balls) was run out in the 11th over. Jeff Needham, with 14 runs off 39 balls from the No.7 spot in the order, was the only other batter to make a double-digits contribution, when Stewart emerged with 3-14, and Tierney 2-13. Veterans in reply cruised to 6-69 in 21.4 overs on Zach Stewart’s 23 and 16 from Divya Santosh Pattapu, while Tharindu Dissanayake and Needham each snared two wickets. Also last weekend, defending premiers Sunrisers grabbed a second win of the season at the expense of Hibernians. Hibernians batted first with Tom Hughes compiling 41 off 60 deliveries, but the rest of the top-order crumbled around him at 5-65. Campbell Bartle made 13 and No.7 batter Luke Munro’s 17 off 21 deliveries was the second-highest contribution in Hibernians’ 107 in 29.4 overs. Nara Jorige (4-18) led Sunrisers’ attack that included a combined five wickets between Manideep Sai Nagavelli and Bharath Goud Kasani. In reply, Sunrisers compiled 4-108 in 14.3 overs — Vijay Snehith Meesala top-scoring with 49 off 25 deliveries. His innings comprised five fours and two sixes, and Guna Surya Madhasi had four boundaries in his 33 off 32 balls. Nagavelli was not out 18 from 17 deliveries, with three boundaries. Goldrush beat St George by seven wickets in the other match played last weekend. After St George batted first, Shaun Purcell led the way with 27 in the side’s 9-143 when six member of Goldrush’s eight-pronged attack each claimed a wicket. Goldrush followed-up with 3-144, on the back of Josh Hourigan’s aggressive 54 off 50 deliveries — underpinned by seven boundaries. Opener Dan Smith went at a strike rate of 135.00, blasting three fours and a six in his 27 off 20 deliveries. In round five this Saturday, Hibernians play Goldrush and Golden City oppose St George at Shepherdson Park, and Morrison Oval hosts the clash between Sunrisers and Veterans. All three matches start at 1pm. Ladder: Veterans, Golden City 9 points; Sunrisers, St George, Goldrush 6; Hibernians 0.