All-rounder Connor Smallwood stars in Green Range-Ongerup’s day one victory at senior country week

Green Range-Ongerup faced a must-win game with Bunbury and Districts at senior country week in Perth on Wednesday in their bid to reach the D-section semi-finals.

Taking one side to the week-long competition, Green Range-Ongerup were successful on the opening day but then lost on day two and must win their last qualifying game to finish in the top two.

On Tuesday they recorded a 43-run victory over Albany and Districts 3 at Gwynne Park, led by Connor Smallwood.

Smallwood was brilliant with bat and ball as his side successfully defended 139.

Top-order contributions from Smallwood (37 from 104 balls), Kyran Brooks (33), Lewis Davis (28) and Shane Edmonds (18) helped Green Range-Ongerup set a decent total.

Albany and Districts made a solid start with a 38-run opening stand but Green Range-Ongerup turned the match in their favour quickly as Mitch Smith snared two early scalps and then Smallwood ripped through the middle order.

Smallwood finished with six wickets in a superb bowling performance as Albany and Districts were bowled out for 96.

In round two at Jubilee Reserve on Tuesday, Green Range-Ongerup fell just short of a second victory.

Batting first, things started terribly, with the team slumping to 4-14 before a middle order revival.

Smith made 22 and was well supported by Kade Walter (22), while Dean Rintoul cracked six boundaries in his unbeaten 29 as Green Range-Ongerup made 115 all out.

In reply, West Pilbara fell to 4-21 as Jeremy Nelson snared three of the first four wickets but their middle order steadied the chase.

West Pilbara passed the victory target eight wickets down in the 41st over to hand Green Range-Ongerup their first defeat.

Nelson was the pick of the bowlers with 4-23 from 11 overs, while Davis chipped in with 2-28 from his 11 overs.

The semi-finals of the tournament are played on Thursday before the finals on Friday.