Things started better this week for the stand-in skipper as Kukerin won the toss and decided to have a bat first on a warm and steamy afternoon.

Kukerin’s opening batsmen was still driving through Kondinin by the time they took the field so T Adams was promoted back to the top of the order.

After a barrage of short pitch deliveries from J Burns (2/49), Adams found himself in no-man’s land and gloved one straight to backward square leg.

Once again K Joyce came in after an early wicket and needed to start building good partnerships and at drinks the visitors were 2/71, after just losing the wicket of P Joyce a couple of overs before for a solid 34.

After drinks the run rate lifted thanks to some attacking play from T Leo and K Joyce and they pushed the score quickly along to 149 when Leo was caught on the boundary for a quick-fire 38. Joyce was still in and looking the goods as other batsmen fell around him chasing quick runs and eventually was brilliantly caught and bowled by D Nicholl (2/35) for a wellmade

86.

Kukerin ended up with a competitive 7/212 on a slow and patchy outfield.

A complete weather change after tea was welcomed by Kukerin and it was N Ditchburn who was given the luxury of bowling with the gale force wind and K Joyce

had to do his pennants and bowl into it.

After J Burns was dismissed for a briskly made 23, the score was 1/27 and the game was then completely dominated by Kukerin as N Ditchburn (5/15) and K Joyce (3/29) ripped through the next seven batsmen for 18 runs.

Hyden were all out for just 65, in an impressive display from Kukerin as they continue to work hard and build momentum leading into finals.

The Kukerin Hotel’s man of the match went to recent dragon import K Joyce for his impressive 86 and three poles and play of the day went to N Ditchburn for bowling 11 straight for just 15 runs and taking a Michelle.

An honourable mention must go to P Joyce as well, as he also took a Michelle in catches and made 34.

This week it’s the last of the qualifying games as Kukerin look to consolidate good form against Lake Grace in Kukerin.

Training this week will be TBA as there is a crutching working bee on Thursday.