Hedland head for Country Cup in Perth

Port Hedland Cricket Association qualified for the Country Cup finals in Perth next March after beating fierce competition at the Town Oval on Saturday.

Hedland topped the score sheets and earned local bragging rights over Newman, Fortescue and West Pilbara at the inaugural Pilbara qualifying event.

Port Hedland was winning team, Fortescue received the Spirit of Cricket award and Port Hedland’s Tahma Canning was player of the competition.

At the presentation function, WA Cricket Association country coordinator Tim Lees put forward a proposal for a Pilbara Cricket Board.

In Port’s game with Newman, Tony Rowe produced a fine catch off the fourth ball to dismiss Port captain Matt Dosa for a duck.

The two sides battled 40C heat and a wet playing surface early on which made things difficult.

But the players were intent on winning and put on a great show as Port posted an intimidating total of 5-151, with Izzy Kalzee (54), Phil Hayman (39) and Peter Shepherd (22).

Newman were up for the challenge.

Rowe, who had bowling figures of 2-28, put on a 48-run partnership with Brian Hall to keep his side in contention.

Port bowlers got in their stride, with Nathan Whitney taking 2-9 and Kalzee 2-16, as Newman fell short, finishing on 7-105 from their 20 overs.

On the west wicket, Fortescue overcame West Pilbara in a competitive game.

Fortescue’s Kevin Sweetman 3-18 and Brad Scott 3-12 were the chief destroyers, and Jamie Richardson and Charlie Edwards claimed a pair each, as West Pilbara were all out for 83.

Daniel Slattery and Richardson then secured Fortescue’s 6-96 win with the bat.

In round two, Newman posted 144, but Fortescue came out swinging.

A 74-run partnership between Julian Poolman and Chris Betteley gave Fortescue victory.

Meanwhile, Port showed West Pilbara their talent by making 146, with Whitney (30), Canning (36) and Scott Leech (22) the standouts.

Pete Thomas impressed for West Pilbara, taking 4-20, but Port’s supremacy shone through and WP were all out for 102 in the 16th over.

The competition’s undefeated sides, Fortescue and Port, met in a cracking decider.

Fortescue won the toss and elected to bowl, showing confidence that they could chase down a big total.

Canning (70) took up the challenge, enabling Hedland to score at 11 an over.

Port finished with the day’s highest total, posting 215 off their 20 overs, with contributions from Leech (34), Hayman (31) and Aaron Hamilton (27).

The pick of the bowlers for Fortescue were Darren Scott 2-9, Cameron Jones 2-31 and Brad Scott 2-34.

Fortescue were always behind the run rate required of 10.5 runs per over.

Sweetman (30) and Dean Flattery (35) tried hard to force runs with a partnership of 55.

But the Port Hedland bowlers tightened up, keeping Fortescue to 9-136.

The trio of Jarrod O’Dea 2-14, Danny Palmer 3-38 and Canning 2-3 were influential.

Newman easily overcame West Pilbara for third place.