Youthful Ferals play hard

Instead it heralded the beginning of the Northam Tavern Twenty20 Cup, which began on Saturday with three games featuring six teams.

The five sides from the 40 over competition were joined by a second Bakers Hill team.

The clash between Ferals and Bakers Hill Green began with some confusion.

Scheduled at Jubilee Oval, play was transferred to Bert Hawke 2 after a miscommunication saw a local association marking out bays on the ground for some event the following day.

Fortunately, their representative was so polite and friendly that players from both sides couldn't get far enough away any quicker.

Lovely lady.

Bakers Hill Green won the toss and sent Ferals in to bat.

Despite losing a couple of early wickets, Ferals opening batsman Jack Parmenter anchored a competitive total.

Parmenter formed a third wicket partnership worth 54 with Troy Sims (25), lifting Ferals from 2 for 9 to 3 for 63.

He was eventually dismissed, trapped plum in front and down on one knee, for a well compiled top score of 36, with the total on 87.

Connor Sergeant continued his good form from his previous innings in the elimination final.

He found the middle of the bat from the moment he arrived and worked the gaps.

Sergeant kept the scoreboard ticking and batted cleverly with the tail to remain not out on 27 at the end of the innings.

Ferals reached 8 for 126 from 20 overs.

It was a team performance with the ball from Bakers Hill Green. Six players took a wicket.

The best figures were shared by Aaron Carter and Hayden Bishop with 1 for 8 from 2 overs.

Ferals were fielding a very young side with five players who were 13 or under.

One of those, Brian Willie was charged with opening the bowling and promptly delivered.

He took two wickets with the new ball from two overs and conceded just nine runs.

Partner in crime, Max Smith also picked up a quick wicket to finish with 1 for 12 from 2 overs.

While Bakers slipped to 3 for 26, left handed opening batsman Colin MacTaggart (30 not out) was difficult to restrict as he grew in confidence.

Before he retired, MacTaggart was joined by skipper Paul Clune and the pair settled into a serious run chase.

Clune started slowly but once his eye was in, he creamed a number of shots to and over the boundary, from square leg to long off.

As per competition rules, Clune retired the over he reached his half century to remain 50 not out.

This gave Ferals a sniff and they rolled through the middle order cheaply.

With the game up for grabs, the Ferals captain chucked the ball to some untried youngsters, who gave it a red hot go but it wasn't enough as Bakers Green reached the target in the last over.

A seventh wicket partnership worth 22 between James Turner and Scott Williamson absorbed the pressure and carried them over the line.

Although Bakers Green celebrated, cricket was the winner as the close contest was played in good spirit and featured plenty of young talent.

Ferals used 11 bowlers and, aside from Willie and Smith, Fletcher Page stood out with 1 for 2 from 2 overs with 1 maiden (maiden overs are like gold in Twenty20 cricket).

The other Bakers Hill side hosted Balladong in Wundowie. Bakers Gold also won the toss and also sent the opposition in.

Balladong were playing short and were in some trouble at 4 for 23 with key batsmen Jermaine Davis Senior and Junior back in the sheds.

Alan Sibley did the damage with the ball early (2 wickets for 12 runs from 3 overs with 1 maiden) before he was bettered by Matt Turner (2 for 8 from 2 with 1 maiden).

Balladong were rescued by young left hander Tarkyn Narrier, who stroked 51 not out before he retired, supported by Steve Gorbig, who was unbeaten on 37 at the end of the innings.

They helped Balladong post a competitive total of 5 for 120 from 20 overs.

Bakers Hill Gold captain Matt Turner (24) opened the batting and had his side off to a solid start before they lost both openers with the total locked on 29.

Brayden Beck played a pivotal innings, firstly forming a 36-run partnership with John Nazzari, before being joined by Alan Sibley.

Beck retired on 53 not out, leaving Sibley to finish the job as he capped an all round game with 28 not out.

Bakers Gold claimed victory after they finished on 3 for 135 from 20 overs.

The outstanding Balladong bowler was Glen Podmore who claimed 1 for 4 from 3 overs with his mediums.

Grass Valley travelled to the Toodyay Town Oval to face the home side.

They batted first after Toodyay won the toss and elected to bowl.

Valley made a healthy start, reaching 31 before losing their first wicket, the dangerous Bailey O'Driscoll for 18.

Fellow opener Clancy Thompson (29) was then joined by Kitt Byfield (33 not out) and the pair put on 41 for the second wicket to take Valley to 2 for 72.

Byfield remained unbeaten at the end of the 20 overs with the total on 118 for the loss of three wickets.

Toodyay shared the ball around, using 10 individual bowlers, the best of whom was Beau Wagenaar with 1 for 7 from 3 overs.

When it was their turn to bowl, Valley took regular wickets to stunt the Toodyay run chase.

Beau Wagenaar played something of a lone hand, top scoring with 33, but Toodyay fell short, all out for 86 in the 19th over.

With the ball for Valley, Zeke Kennedy (2 for 14 from 2) was good, Clancy Thompson (2 for 12 from 3) was better, but Lachie Thompson was best with 3 for 11 from 2.5 overs.

The fast paced action of Twenty20 cricket continues this Saturday, February 22.

Toodyay travel to Bakers Hill Oval to take on Bakers Hill Green.

Ferals play host to Balladong at Bert Hawke 2.

Grass Valley welcome Bakers Hill Gold to Jubilee Oval.

All games will be commencing at 3pm, weather permitting.