Harvey-Benger Cricket Club scores victories in second and fourth grade in final matches of regular season

Harvey-Benger’s second grade goes into the BDCA finals series in good form after a 155-run win against Hay Park on Saturday. Hay Park won the toss and elected to bowl first in hot and humid conditions. Harvey-Benger were under pressure early losing opener Hamish Minton and No.3 Mahdi Saleem to leave the visitors at 2-22. Matt Chave joined opener Haydn Jones and the pair set about resurrecting the innings. The pair managed to put on an 81-run partnership before Jones was dismissed to a great diving catch at point for 54. Chave and captain Anton Fimmano put on 29 before Chave was removed for 48 knicking a ball to the keeper standing up to the stumps. The middle order of Kyle Hickman (11) and Joseph Cambrea (26) managed to chime in with scores around Fimmano who made a composed 38. Francois Roelofsz utilised his ball striking ability at the back end of the innings to make 25 not out and with No.11 Joryn Scarlett retiring hurt due to illness, Harvey-Benger’s innings was completed at 46 overs with 237 on the board. In reply, Hay Park never looked in control and lost wickets at regular intervals. Chave managed to do the majority of the damage with 4-24 from his 10 overs. He was ably supported by Scarlett (2-8), Roelofsz (1-12) and Kye McCreery (1-28). Hay Park were eventually bowled out for 82. The result leaves Harvey-Benger in fourth place and they’ll meet Marist Cricket Club in an elimination final on Saturday at Forrest Park. Harvey-Benger’s fourth grade team stormed into a home final with a resounding 66-run victory over Hay Park at the Harvey Recreation Ground on Saturday, keeping their hopes of a three-peat alive. Winning the toss on a warm and humid day, the home side elected to bat and set about building a strong platform. Scott Fowler continued his run of exceptional form, imperious in accumulating 58 as the top scorer in the innings. Having a solid foundation being 2-80 at drinks, the Harvey-Benger middle order then raised the stakes after the break. Darren Bozanich (21), Kyle Jones (28), Aaron Jovanovic (27) and Mal Manton (31 not out) each provided some electric hitting and rapid running to elevate the scoring rate. As the dust settled from their batting innings, Harvey-Benger had compiled an impressive total of 199 from their allotted 40 overs. With nothing to lose, the visiting Hay Park openers threw caution to the wind. Matt Smith (63) in particular took a shine to the opening bowlers, riding his luck being dropped several times and having other shots land fortunately safely. It was the ever reliable Fowler who found the critical breakthrough wicket, clean bowling Smith en route to the fantastic figures of 3-13 from eight overs. Hay Park were unable to sustain their early momentum as a combination of tight bowling and clean fielding slowed the run rate. On a spinning wicket, Blain McCavanagh turned into a middle-order destroyer, claiming four wickets for just seven runs as the home side marched towards victory. In the end, Harvey-Benger cruised to a comfortable win, bowling Hay Park out for 133 in the 35th over. The bonus point victory, combined with other favourable results, means Harvey-Benger jump from fifth to third on the ladder. As a result, the team will host Dardanup in a knockout final on Saturday, adding to the successful year with all Harvey-Benger teams across juniors, men’s and women’s making finals.