Brothers put up fight to victory

The Brothers battalion celebrate the Grand Final defeat of Country Wests yesterday.

Cric

CRICKET: A stinging Boyd Williams bowling onslaught signalled Country Wests downfall in the division one Grand Final yesterday.

The brutal five-wicket attack felled Country Wests top order batsmen and helped Brothers to its sixth consecutive Grand Final victory.

Brothers captain David Boge won the toss and did not hesitate in sending Country Wests to guard the soaked Salter Oval wicket.

He sent in spinster Eddie Butcher against the wind who finished opening batsman Scott Erwin early, catching him off a sharp delivery with only three runs on the board.

His partner, Travis Henke weathered the opening attack and went on to earn a solid 98 runs but third and fourth batsmen Steve Nichols and Philip Proctor succumbed early to blistering Boyd Williams balls with seven and four respectively.

Country Wests captain Matt Flemming gave his side hope earning a solid 38 but was caught off a lofty Chris Powell ball.

Boyd Williams earned a remarkable hat-trick that decimated what was left of Country Wests batting order bowling Daniel Faulkner, Braydon Graham and Brayden Krebs.

Batsmen Andrew Gear went the distance gear posted a solid 35 runs not out and helped his team to a total of 10-183.

Country Wests batsmen Andrew Gear managed to survive the assault earning 35 hard fought runs before the end of the innings.

Country Wests opening bowler Braydon Graham started strongly claiming the scalps of hungry Brothers batsmen Mick Parsons (42) and Jarrod Laycock (29).

Brothers captain David Boge (20) took to the crease with fury but was kept in line by Country Wests young-gun Kyle Stallanearning.

Peter Turich fell quickly with seven runs but the steady eyes of Chris Powell and Chris Anderson earned them 19 and 26 respectively, batting to the end of the innings.

Ultimately Brothers won comfortably achieving 6-185 with six overs to spare.

Brothers captain Boge said the Country Wests total was won with safe and steady batting.

“We showed a bit more patience than their batsmen and tried to keep a steady ship,” he said.

On the back of his sixth premiership win, Boge said his team had maintained focus and composure to win the match.

“It was a good team effort from the boys and they all made a contribution whether it be with the bat or the ball,” he said.

“It was a good game of cricket and probably the biggest total we’ve chased in a good few years.”

Country Wests captain Mat Flemming said losing the toss had serious implications after recent rains.

“The pitch was a lot better in the afternoon than it was in the morning but that’s part of cricket,” he said.

He said despite a solid effort from his team Brothers proved to be the better team on the day.

“I don’t think we could really fault anyone’s performance,” he said.

“We gave them a good contest and they had to really earn the win.”

Wests have struggled for a few years so to make the final and put this sort of pressure on is great.”