Port grind out win

In the final round of senior cricket, Port Hedland Cricket Club overcame a late collapse to extend their winning streak when they took on the Wanderers at Kevin Scott Oval last Friday.

Port got off to a steady start, working their way to 33 in the 11th over before Jarrad O’Dea was dismissed for 12.

Glen Robertson joined Chris Briody in the middle as the two went about building a 111-run partnership that was finally broken in the 29th over, with Briody departing for 66.

Wanderers seized the opportunity to strike back, with Matthew Skelton taking two wickets in the 30th over, dismissing Samuel Mason and Jarred Ams, to leave Port in trouble at 4-147. Skelton continued his dominant bowling display, taking the scalps of Luke Jessop and RJ Colreavy on his way to a five-wicket haul.

The Wanderers’ Wyatt Wilson ripped apart Port’s lower order, taking 4-35 to leave Port on 9-183 after the 35 overs.

Michael Mobilia and Wayne Stokes got the Wanderers off to a strong start, making 47 before Mobilia was run out.

A disciplined bowling attack shut down the Wanderers’ attack, with Stokes falling for 34, leaving the Wanderers at 2-62.

The wicket of Stokes sparked a batting collapse from the Wanderers, with Chris Wichura, Skelton and Christopher Vrossink all falling cheaply to leave their side in tatters at 5-76

A fighting 34 off just 24 deliveries from Aaron Wight wasn’t enough to get the Wanderers over the line, with the team finishing on 7-129 to lose by 54 runs. O’Dea produced a bowling masterclass with the ball, taking three wickets, with one maiden off his seven overs while allowing just 14 runs.

The other wickets were shared with Robertson, Anshul Sharma, and Josh Lees, all taking one each.

In the other game, Miners forfeited against South Hedland, who then played a scratch match against Lions.

The next round of white-ball action will take place on January 31 with Wanderers going up against the Miners while South Hedland will take on the Hedland Lions.