Walters prepares for first play-off clash
Published 7 March 2008
Stewart Walters is today preparing his side, Perth Cricket Club, for the first play-off match of the 2007/08 Western Australia Premier league.
Walters joined Perth from Midland Guildford and immediately took on the role of player coach and captain. He transformed the side from a mid-table finish in 2006/07 to be league leaders for the majority of the season. However, they were eventually pipped for the title by a strong Scarborough side boasting Justin Langer and former Surrey player Rory Hamilton-Brown.
Perth’s position in the play-offs was confirmed a few weeks ago, when Surrey team mate, James Benning smeared Willeton Cricket Club’s bowling attack around the ground for a better than a run-a-ball 176 – taking Perth to victory. However since that point, Walters has been pushing his side hard in an attempt to take the Premiership title.
Going into the last round match of the season, Perth were still in with a chance of finishing first and gave themselves the perfect start by posting 301 in the first innings. Michael Patterson was the mainstay of the innings and was unlucky to be run out only six short of what would have been a fantastic century. Walters played nicely for 26 and looked in good touch but fell when the score was 119, caught by his opposite number.
The Surrey all rounder then showed his ability with the ball to support his opening bowler, Ross Scali, with two wickets. Scali moved the ball through the air and off the pitch to run through the Joondalup top order and finish with four first innings wickets as Perth bowled their opposition out for 126. Sadly, the effort was not enough as Scarborough continued their good form to win and as such finish 16 points ahead at the top.
The top six teams will now play in the play-offs, with Perth taking on Fremantle in the first match. Walters’ side have happy memories of Fremantle, where they picked up a first innings win away from home – the captain himself scoring an unbeaten 91.
Keep watching www.surreycricket.com to find out how Perth get on against Fremantle.
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