Regional cricketers shine during Country Week

Country Week is the biggest cricket carnival in the State and has been running since 1907 with clubs and associations from all regions always excited to be involved.

Junior Country Week was first, and the coveted 16A Section was taken out by Bunbury & Districts Junior Cricket Association, after going through the tournament undefeated.

Winners of all five of their matches, Bunbury also had the leading wicket-taker (Samuel Towers – 15 wickets at 5.73) and the leading run-scorer (Matthew Allen – 244 at 61.00) as they fended off Albany & Districts in a hard-fought Final at the WACA Ground on Friday January 12.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Bunbury posted a highly competitive total of 9-243 off their 50 overs, led by Allen’s brilliant 88 off 95 balls.

In reply, Albany remained competitive throughout, but the run-chase always remained slightly out of their reach, eventually falling 35 runs short.

Meanwhile, Bunbury showed their strength in depth at the 16s age group, also taking out the 16B Section in dominant fashion.

Busselton Margaret River Junior Cricket Association, Great Southern Junior Cricket Association, Wellington Junior Cricket Association and Wellington Junior Cricket Association were also successful each winning a competing age group across the week.

In the Senior Men's Country Week, 40 teams from across regional Western Australia converged in Perth from January 14 – 19.

After a week of competition, Albany and Eastern Districts were the last two teams standing in the Senior Men’s Country Week A Grade division, with the result coming down to the very last over on Friday afternoon.

Albany secured the 7-run win with strong batting performances throughout the middle order through Joe Stanley (82), Rhys Lewis (47), and captain Coen Marwick (38).

Graham Kennedy from Eastern Goldfields put up a strong fight scoring 109, but it was not enough to get his team over the line in a tight contest.

In the lower divisions, South Midland were crowned B Division winners, Albany took home the C Division win, West Pilbara were victorious in the D Division, and West Pilbara won the E Division.

View the full Junior Country Week results here.

View the full Senior Men's Country Week results here.