Lions topple Taverners to regain pride

In the first game of round 7 of the West Pilbara Cricket Association, the Lions hosted the Dampier Taverners at Karratha Leisureplex in search of their first win after four straight losses.

The Lions’ decision to bat first did not go to plan as they lost Lokendra Ranawat for four.

But opener Amol Virkar (24) and captain Vipan Rajput (77) steadied the ship and Aziz Saghar’s 72 runs took the score past 200.

Then a late assault from Muhammad Khan (42) helped the Lions reach 6-276.

In response, Taverners started steadily on the back of opener Wayne Ritzema’s 47.

Adrian D’Zero (51) and Jake Leahy (58) kept the Lions on their toes and a late assault from Marcus O’Brien (43no) was the highlight of Dampier’s innings

But it was too much for the Taverners to get in the end and the Lions won the game by 39 runs.

The second game was hosted by Wickham against Pegs Creek, with Wickham in all sorts of trouble after winning the toss and batting.

Branden Wright took key wickets early to have Wickham reeling at 3-16.

It was Michael James (64) and Liam Mead (27) who put on a partnership that helped Wickham regroup, which then allowed Craig Nunn to come in late and belt an unbeaten 54.

Needing 192 to win, Pegs Creek were never in the hunt after a devastating spell of bowling from Brooke Ball, who ended up with figures of 6-20.

At Bulgarra Oval, the Kats had a convincing win over the Rec Club.

Kats batted first and opener Henry Smith’s 88 anchored the Kats’ commanding total of 6-232.

In response, Rec Club lost openers Andrew Cohen and Rodney Jamieson for ducks.

After a rebuild to 3-100, some good spin bowling from Riley Tennant resulted in the Rec Club collapsing to be all out for 138.