Stuart Poynter picture credit: Cricket Ireland/Ian Jacobs Photography
Cameron Bancroft is shaping up for a One-Day final at the WACA this weekend as his Club side Willetton face Claremont-Nedlands on Sunday.
The Australian returned to club action in time for last weekend’s semi-final, where they beat Subiaco-Floreat in a low-scoring encounter to reach the final.
Willetton managed what looked like a lowly 110 all out from 32.3 overs, Bancroft’s 16 off 46 balls representative of a slow, tough surface. But Willetton’s bowlers responded in fine fashion, bowling the visitors out for 82.
Bancroft’s future opening partner Cameron Steel is a Claremont-Nedlands man but the two won’t face off at the WACA, with Steel preparing for a return to Durham.
His return to club action came following Perth Scorchers’ elimination from the Big Bash League.
A fiery unbeaten 44 from 27 balls from number four helped them end the home campaign on a high with victory over Melbourne Stars, following up with 22 in the final match against Adelaide Strikers.
Wood shines on Test return
As far as returns to Test cricket go, Mark Wood could barely have asked for much better in the third Test against West Indies at St Lucia.
Following his maiden Test five-wicket haul in the first innings, he added the wicket of Shai Hope second time around to finish with match figures of 6/93.
It earned him the Man of the Match award & you’d have done very well to take it off him after the match…
Think this cheque might bounce @MAWood33! ? pic.twitter.com/XMfcJ3SCRU
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 13, 2019
Despite England’s 2-1 series defeat, Ben Stokes earned plaudits for his bowling in the first two matches & then with the bat at St Lucia, scoring 79 & 48 not out to finish as England’s leading run-scorer.
Poynter’s Ireland stint underway
A busy few months for Stuart Poynter & Ireland started this week with the T20I quadrangular series against Scotland, the Netherlands & Oman in Al Amerat.
The series serves as a precursor to the India tour which immediately follows, where they’ll face Afghanistan in 3 T20Is, 5 ODIs & a Test match.
Poynter played in the second warm-up match against an Oman Development XI, scoring 13 & taking one catch, & followed up with two catches in the win over Oman. They suffered a big defeat to Scotland today (15 February).
Harte in action; Raine’s stint ends
Gareth Harte’s Old Edwardians side remain unbeaten, racking up two more wins over the last two weekends in South Africa’s Gauteng Premier League.
His fellow team-mates destroyed Jeppe with the ball, rolling them out for 44, but were made to work harder for the victory over Glenvista a week later.
Harte took 1/22 off nine with the ball as the hosts were bowled out for 170 & made 29 with the bat as they won by five wickets with just short of five overs to spare.
And despite a win in the final match of New Zealand’s Super Smash, Ben Raine & his Otago Volts side were eliminated at the group stage.
The Durham man scored 13 in his final match & has returned to Emirates Riverside this week to resume pre-season training.