Harvey-Benger Cricket Club rides high after 400-run result for second grade in final matches for 2022

The Harvey-Benger Cricket Club ended 2022 on a high at the weekend, with one of its teams notching up 400 runs. HBCC’s second grade side sent a commanding message to the rest of the competition with a huge 242-run win over Dalyellup away from home on Saturday. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Harvey went about their task in aggressive fashion with Joseph Cambrea (55 off 54) and Francois Roelofsz (43 off 53) putting on 110 for the first wicket. Both openers fell quickly after that with Kyle Hickman and Matt Chave needing to reset the innings. They put on 92 for the fourth wicket in very quick time before Chave fell for 52 off 39 balls. Hickman continued to make Dalyellup’s poor bowling pay with a dominant 88 off 52. Haydn Jones came in and worked with the lower order to amass 77 not out off 40 balls to leave Harvey with a club record 8-400 off 50 overs. In reply, Dalyellup were aggressive but continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Zak Italiano bowled well with the new ball finishing with 3-31 from seven overs. He was well supported by Rob Turner who took 1-15 from six overs. Matt Cooke (1-30 off 6) Chave (3-16 off 5.3) and Roelofsz (1-7 off 4) cleaned up the rest of the order to bowl out Dalyellup for 158. The side finishes 2022 on top of the ladder. HBCC’s fourth grade team also carried winning momentum into the mid-season break with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Dalyellup at the Harvey Recreation Ground. Losing the toss and finding themselves in the field once again, Harvey-Benger were clearly engaged early on. This was highlighted by the first wicket, with David Cooper taking a fantastic diving catch at cover. Opening bowlers Adrian Kirk (2-12) and the impressive Jorryn Fucile (3-16) bowled tight lines making scoring hard for the visiting Dalyellup team who could only limp to 5-40 at drinks. Dalyellup fought back after the break in an effort to stem the loss of wickets but were ultimately all out for 99, with Blain McCavanagh also in the wickets taking 3-25. Harvey-Benger were never really troubled in the run chase on an excellent batting pitch. Captain Rowan Morrison (19) was the sole wicket to fall, as Johnny Crognale (51 not out) continued his exceptional form with the bat before the imperious Daniel Italiano (21 not out) finished the run chase in the 19th over. The fourth grade side also remains on top of the ladder. Both teams will be back in action on January 7 when they welcome fellow Shire of Harvey neighbours Leschenault for the first games of 2023 at home.