Geraldton juniors have tough tournament but under-14 side’s still a chance for the final

The under-14 C-section team has a good chance in their junior country week grand final while other sides have struggled as the competition plays out its final matches on Friday.

Having finished second in their group they faced Great Southern on Thursday and were sent into bat.

They collapsed for 80 with opener Kian Smit (35) the only one to make double figures in what was their lowest total so far this tournament.

However, Hamish Reynolds and Lucas McGregor removed both openers for just two as their bowlers were on top with the score at 3-11.

Tom Brown (29) fought back for Great Southern but was retired not out triggering another collapse as they loss 4-14, forcing Brown to be brought back but fell five runs later to Luke Gardiner.

Great Southern were 8/54 at the time of print.

Elsewhere, the under-16 A squad still sit without a win after four games.

On Tuesday they sent Bunbury into bat, which didn’t work out as the openers put on 107 for the first wicket. The top three from Bunbury all made half-centuries.

There was finally some joy after Morgan Baxter (73) was removed by Rex Heberle as Bunbury collapsed losing their last eight wickets for just 32 runs, but they still had an imposing total of 240.

Hudson Kelly made hay in the collapse claiming 3-5 off his two overs.

They lost 3-36 in reply before Louis Campbell and Matthew Greenless steadied with a 54-run partnership for the fourth wicket. When Campbell fell for a quickfire 47 off 28 balls it was 5-99 and though Heberle did his best with 54 Geraldton were never chasing down the total, falling for 175.

On Wednesday they had Busselton-Margaret River on the ropes at 7-137 after Campbell (3-34) and Gus Spalding (2-40) had ripped through the top order, but a defiant 64-run partnership for the eighth wicket saw them post a competitive 201.

Geraldton were solid in reply as Greenless (35) and Heberle (16) put on a 55-run opening stand, but after Heberle fell Busselton-Margaret River made regular strikes to keep Geraldton on the back foot.

Lucas Clarkson (23) provided some lower-order resistance but Geraldton were all out for 177 off 44 overs.

At the time of print, they were up against it in their final group game with Wellington at 3-239 off 44 overs.

The Geraldton under-14 A side had a tough day on Tuesday as they folded for 140 in their chase of 223.

Having Wellington 6-92, an 89-run partnership for the seventh wicket allowed Wellington to post a very competitive total.

Geraldton never got going in the chase with Jai Diepeveen (41) and Darcy Giltrow (25) the only batters to make it past 20 as they were bowled out in the 42nd over.

Against Bunbury, a hundred from their opener Flynn Fazey saw them post a big total of 6-248 which again proved too much for Geraldton.

Giltrow continued his red-hot form with 74 at better than a run a ball as he and Colin Culloton put on 80 for the first wicket, but there was little else with the next highest being 21 from Austyn Moulds, who also took three wickets earlier, as Geraldton were all out for 176.

They faced Albany on Thursday needing a win to have any hope of finishing top.