Sport
28 February, 2024
Warrack Stars win junior cricket
All roads led to the Brim Recreation Reserve last weekend for the Warracknabeal District Junior Cricket Association Grand Final, and the game did not fail to disappoint as it went down to the wire and was one of the most remarkable junior games in history.
After more than 300 runs combined were scored over the weekend, a victory was eventually secured by the Warrack Stars by just four runs.
The Stars won the toss and elected to bowl first on Saturday morning, where the decision appeared to be the right one early when Chad Hartnett struck in the first over dismissing Lorson Hallam without a run on the board.
However, the Giants quickly gained the upper hand. Jackson More played a wonderful innings of 64 runs retired, and he was supported by teammate Lenny Weir with a fine Knock of 39 before. When Wier was eventually dismissed by Jaiden Cooksley, the Giants' lower order rallied around Jackson Moore to close their innings at 161 at stumps on day one.
The Warrack Stars worked hard in the field all morning with the shining light being Chad Hartnett who finished with the outstanding figures of six wickets for just five runs from his nine overs. Hartnett was well supported by Oliver and Issac Credlin with three scalps between them and Bayden Jenkinson and Jaiden Cooksley with one each.
It appeared that the 162 runs required for victory on day two was going to be a long shot, to say the least, when the Warrack Stars began their innings on Sunday morning. Chad Hartnett opened with Oliver Holland and when Holland departed for two runs and Sam Williamson soon after for one with the score on just five runs things didn’t look good. Jackson Moore and Lenny Weir were bowling a good line and length, and the batters would have to be patient.
A steadying, some would say match-winning partnership of 106 runs between Chad Hartnett 51, retired, and Jaiden Cooksley, 32, changed the momentum of the game, and when Harrison Williams chimed in with 18 runs with the lower order the victory target was in sight.
Requiring almost a run a ball toward the end it was Oliver Credlin who broke the shackles with successive boundaries that opened the window of victory for the Warrack Stars. However, the game would go right down to the wire with the victory secured with just four balls remaining in the day's play. Warrack Stars won by four Runs, 7/165 defeating the Hopetoun Giants 10/161.
Presentation of the premiership trophy along with player medallions and association awards rounded out a highly successful Local Junior Cricket Season. Association President Jack Vanderburg was the master of ceremonies and thanked everyone for a great year. WDJCA Secretary Graeme Holland congratulated all players on their wonderful sportsmanship throughout the season “Today I feel very proud of every one of you and I feel that you're all winners,” Holland said.
Awards for the season.
Batting Average winner was Chad Hartnett with an average of 103, Bowling award went to Axel Decker averaging 6.14 and the Fielding Award was won by Jaiden Cooksley with four catches and a run-out. The Cricketer of the year was awarded to Chad Hartnett with 213 points.