Belt Up Country Cup: BDCA undefeated after beating WA Invitational XI in Donnybrook

At the halfway point of the Belt Up Country Cup series, Bunbury & Districts Cricket Association’s representative team looks to be in a strong position for a grand final berth in 2023 after a second win.

The BDCA played the WA Invitational XI side at Egan Park in Donnybrook during the second round of the 2022-23 Belt Up Country Cup.

After the WA Invitational XI side elected to bat first after winning the toss, it did not take long for BDCA to make their presence known.

Bowler Zane Verhaaf took his first wicket of the day in just the second over, bowling Joe Dowling for just two runs.

The fun did not stop there for BDCA, with young gun Nico Le Roux out for two, lbw to Jacob Wintle, followed by Fraser Oates who was caught for three by Blair Malatesta off the bowling of Verhaaf during the sixth over.

The WA Invitational XI side soon found their groove in the pairing of Michael Noble and Judd Kelman, who both managed a number of big hits until the 27th over when Noble was caught by Malatesta off Tim Hutchison for 47, quickly followed by Kelman who was caught and bowled by Cruize Ciallella for 32.

As BDCA continued to amp up the pressure, wickets continued to fall, with bowler Cory Fitt racking up three wickets to help see WA Invitational XI all out for 167.

Following the change, things looked promising for BDCA with the opening pairing of Bradman May and Michael Tassone, with both managing several big hits including a six each before May was caught by Le Roux off Haig Colombera for nine with the score at 1-33.

Although Tassone would eventually follow after an lbw saw him out for 25, BDCA found their groove in Cody Ryan and Robbie Dawson.

Despite Ryan being caught by South West young gun Jack Buswell for 54 and Malatesta being bowled for one, it took BDCA just 34 overs to surpass WA Invitational XI and claim victory on 4-171.

Dawson was the biggest contributor of the match, racking up a game-high 60 not out.

Elsewhere, Peel defeated Albany & Districts Cricket Association 9-235 to 164, leaving BDCA the only undefeated side in the four-team pool.

BDCA will travel to Albany next month to take on Albany & Districts Cricket Association in the last round of matches before the grand final in February.