Harvey-Benger lose controversially to Eaton, Leschenault topple Donnybrook and Waroona thump Singleton

Harvey-Benger were looking to make it two from two in the BDCA second grade when they hosted Eaton, but those hopes were quashed in controversial fashion. The home side batted first and were in trouble when Haydn Jones was run out for nine, but steadied as Anton Fimmano (38), Matthew Chave (30) and Francois Roelofsz (42) kept the Eaton bowlers honest. Cameos from a number of Harvey-Benger’s middle order kept the score ticking, but they lost consistent wickets and were eventually bowled out for 195 in the penultimate over. Two wickets in two balls from Francois Roelofsz (3-45 off 10 overs) had the game on a knife edge and Eaton 5-99. Eaton were at 9-170 and needed 26 off the final 54 balls when Ben Simpson joined Clint Hewson (30) at the crease. Eaton needed four runs and Harvey-Benger required one wicket to win off the final four overs of the game when umpire Russell Lindroth called the game off due to the 50 overs not being bowled by the scheduled close of play. Lindroth added 23 runs to Eaton’s score, handing them a one-wicket win. BDCA umpire coordinator Gary Crombie said he had not yet spoken to umpire Lindroth, but said he had followed Local Rule 6.2.12 on slow over rates. HBCC president Haydn Jones said it was an anticlimactic end to an exciting game, and the club would contact the association to get clarification if there could be any flexibility on the rule in the future. Leschenault have further cemented their spot in the top four of the BDCA first grade with an eight-wicket win over Donnybrook at Egan Park. The Green Caps spinners had their way with the home side as Donnybrook went from 1-88 to all out for 116, with Jason Shine (4-9), Shehzad Gondal (2-7) and Matthew Bowles (2-7) doing most of the damage. Leschenault made light work of the total after the early loss of Scott Langford, as Steve Denison (62 off 34) and Nico Le Roux (30 off 26) flexed their muscles. Remarkably, with just 18 runs to win from 35 overs, Denison blasted three boundaries and a six off Brandon O’Rourke to give his side an eight-wicket win. Meanwhile in the Wyllie Cup, Waroona recorded a thumping seven-wicket victory over the Singleton Irwinians. Singleton were 1-52 before Damien Stanley triggered a collapse with the removal of Aaron White (22). Opener Nathan Anderson (22 off 98) did his best to occupy the crease but quickly ran out of partners, as opening bowlers Jayden Derosa (3-14 off eight) and Zachary Moody (3-32 off 7.5) rolled through the visitors to bowl them out for 104. Derosa (27 not out) anchored Waroona’s innings again with the bat, with contributions from Brandon Burt (35) and Nic Rep (24 not out) helping the home side cross the finish line 3-106 in the 22nd over.