North Kalgoorlie’s defence of the Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association’s A-grade premiership has, after a rough start to the 2024-25 season, gained momentum when they brushed aside Hannans on Saturday by eight wickets.
Following just two wins through the opening seven matches, Norths have notched back-to-back victories to kickstart the second half of their season.
They remain in third place, but edged a game clear of last-placed Lake View in the run to a top-three finals series.
Hannans went into the clash at Wallace Park chasing outright first place, but they instead crashed to be all out for 77 in 25.1 overs.
It was Hannans’ lowest score of the season and they have lost two in a row since fixtures resumed after the Christmas break.
After Hannans batted first, openers Matt Ralph and Aarib Tareen Khan both top-scored with 13 and put on 25 runs for the first wicket.
But the side quickly slumped to 6-55 on the back of Blake Willis’ 4-27.
Nick Willis grabbed 2-11 and Matthew Smart 2-3 as North secured a valuable fourth win.
With the dismissals of Graham Kennedy and Alex Jago, Blake Willis was on a hat-trick in the 11th over.
He was unsuccessful, but captured Ralph’s wicket in the 15th over that left Hannans at 5-55.
In reply, Sam Burge went first ball off Harrison Wheatcroft’s bowling but Michael Noble made 26 off 27 balls and Harris Carnegie top-scored with an unbeaten 44 off 30 balls.
Carnegie’s knock featured seven fours and two sixes as Norths cruised to 2-83 in 9.5 overs.
Norths’ officials will be hopeful that a big start to the second half follows similar lines to last summer, when they won their last seven matches, en route to the flag.
However, they face another big test this Saturday against first-placed Great Boulder.
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