Sunrisers grab seventh KBCA victory at expense of St George

Sunrisers’ bid for a top-two finish in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Cricket Association is on track after they brushed aside St George by eight wickets in round 11 last Saturday.

In a clash of the KBCA’s second and third-placed teams, St George batted first but were dismissed for 110 in 28.1 overs.

After initially struggling to 2-8, St George turned to first drop Shaun Purcell (24 off 28 balls) and No.5 batter Terence Meere (31 off 61 balls) to resurrect the innings.

But the last seven wickets fell for 47 runs as Tharun raj Bathini spearheaded the attack with 4-18, and Aravind Chegonda and Bharath Goud Kasani each picked up two wickets.

In reply, Sunrisers stuttered to 2-24 before captain Vijay Snehith Meesala (22 off 20 balls), Manideep Sai Nagavelli (not out 36 off 45 balls), and Chegonda (not out 41 off 45 balls) got them home inside 21 overs.

The result moved Sunrisers a game ahead of St George in second place, with four rounds of qualifiers left.

Also last weekend, opener Tom Hughes blasted 74 off 65 deliveries to underpin Hibernians’ win against Goldrush.

After Hibernians were set 163 to win, Hughes and co-opener Nick Edmeades (21 off 44 balls) put on 63 runs.

Tom Hannagan contributed an unbeaten 18 off 14 balls in the side’s 7-163 in 28.1 overs.

Earlier, Goldrush’s 6-162 was anchored by Matt Cannan (45 off 50 balls; six fours; two sixes), Jason Knoll (63 off 64 balls; eight fours; one six), and Zach Hunter (not out 31 off 39 balls).

First-placed Golden City beat bottom side Veterans in the other match.

Batting first, Golden City compiled 160 that was led by Michael Boucaut (22) and Faraz Akhter (21 off 15 balls).

In reply, Veterans were restricted to 9-131 — despite the efforts of Divya Santosh Pattapu (29) and Mitch Wallace (26) as Jason Bolt snared 3-21.

Round 12 will be played on Saturday, when Hibernians oppose St George and Goldrush clash with Veterans at Shepherdson Park, while at Morrison Oval, Golden City take on Sunrisers.

All matches are at 1pm.

Ladder:

Golden City 27 points; Sunrisers 21; St George, Goldrush 18; Hibernians 15; Veterans 0.