Cricket: Bunbury bomb out of contention

It will be an early homecoming for Bunbury’s three Country Week cricket teams this year.

Regularly at the top of the leaderboard, the many-times champions have crashed out of contention.

Still in the running after a solid second day victory over Upper Great Southern, Bunbury crashed to the talented Kurt D’Agostino and his Harvey-Leschenault mates.

After lowering their colours to traditional rivals Busselton-Margaret River on the opening day with a fine allround show by skipper Jono Whitney backed by Kris Miller and Kobus Wessels, Bunbury edged out Upper Great Southern by 10 runs on the second day.

But on day three a Herculean show by rangy youngster D’Agostino had Bunbury floundering near the foot of the points table with no hope of making the final.

In factBunbury have to defeat either of their next opponents, former champions Williams and Albany, to retain their place in the A Section.

Bunbury No. 2 team have a similar record in C Section.

With a win and a loss Jaysen Miguel’s men took on the mighty Broome juggernaut and impressed in a 35-run loss.

After cruising past both their first opponents Broome expected another breeze against Bunbury 2.

But a brave fight with the ball by young leg spinner Sam Whitney and a four wicket haul by veteran Jason Reid kept Broome to a serviceable 235.

And when young Eaton opening batsman Kyle Tapper smashed the second delivery of the innings for a huge six and followed that up with an electrifying 69 containing three sixes and seven fours in an opening partnership of 94 with Alex Hurst, there was renewed hopes of a boilover.

But the rest of the batting led by Corey Fagan, skipper Miguel and Stuart Hayward made starts they could not keep up and they fell short on 200.