Giltrow’s ton of class sends Geraldton top while under 16s struggle at junior country week

Geraldton junior country week teams have got off to a mixed start at the championships in Perth with the under-16 side suffering back-to-back losses on the opening day. Country week began on Monday with Geraldton entering three junior sides in the under-16 A and under-14 A and C divisions. The under-16s began with a match against the Cricket North-West side and put in a good performance after being sent into bat. Gus Spalding top-scored with 64 off 56 balls with four fours and two sixes as they posted a competitive 4-143 off their 20 overs. That’s a score that would probably win you eight out of 10 games in Geraldton but the North-West side had far too much firepower with a 95-run fifth-wicket partnership all but deciding the game. Louis Campbell was the best with the ball taking 3-27 off his four overs and while Geraldton’s opening bowlers contained the run rate, their fourth and fifth bowling options were found wanting, combining for eight wicketless overs that went for a mammoth 93 runs. They faced Albany in their second game and again batted first but this time they were shot out for 64. It was a disastrous start as they lost 4-4 before Spalding (23) and Matthew Greenless (12) provided some resistance but both fell to the bowling of Peter Darmody who finished with 3-10 off his four overs. With little hope of defending their score, Geraldton rolled through the bowling changes using 10 bowlers with Oliver Campbell the best with 2-15 off his two overs. However, it was a small consolation as Albany amassed 4-157 in reply. It leaves them bottom of the group and having to win all of their remaining games and hope other results go their way to make the top two finals. There was better news for the under-14 A side as a stunning century from hot prospect Darcy Giltrow proved just enough in a thrilling encounter with the Busselton-Margaret River Junior Cricket Association (BMRJCA). After being sent in to bat Giltrow played a commanding innings in their 40-over game, top scoring with 112 off 110 balls with 20 boundaries. The rest of the line-up provided support around him before he retired not out to let others have a hit. They posted 5-204 off their 40 overs and were on course for an easy win after reducing BMRJCA to 5-86. However a stubborn middle-order fightback took the game into the final over, with the last two wickets run-out to leave BMRJCA just 11 runs short of victory. Jai Diepeveen (2-30) and Digby Williams (2-25) were the pick of the bowlers as Geraldton sat top of the ladder after opening day. The under 14 C team also opened up with a win in their 25-over fixture over the Upper Great Southern Junior Cricket Association (UGSJCA). After choosing to bowl first Geraldton restricted UGSJCA to 7-62, a target they overhauled for the loss of just one wicket thanks to an unbeaten 39 from opener Reuben Boonzaier. They will be concerned by a middle order collapse batting beyond the target as they lost 7-31 to close out the innings, ending the game at 8-101 off 16.4 overs. They sit second in the four-team group and are in good shape to make the final.