Benning’s bowling guarantees play-off place
Published 13 February 2008
Surrey pair James Benning and Stewart Walters bowled their side, Perth, to qualification into the play-off stages of the Western Australian Premier League at the weekend.
Benning and Walters both starred at the bowling crease for their club Perth on the weekend, contributing to an outright victory over club side University. The victory keeps them in second place behind Scarborough, who are only six points ahead. The two teams clash this Saturday at Scarborough's home ground, with the winner taking over at the top of the ladder with just one round to play.
Against University, Club coach and captain Walters won the toss and toss and sent University in to bat. A rampant Perth outfit ripped through the weak University eleven dismissing the students for 121 with Benning picking up two scalps whilst yielding only 11 runs from his 12 overs. His skipper was just as economical as his brace of wickets cost only 17 runs from nine overs.
The inform Perth side have won 11 out of their 12 fixtures so far this season and this meager total seemed a formality. However a calamitous batting performance saw them fall three runs short as they were all out for 118. University’s John Mangan picked up five wickets for 29 to destroy the Perth middle order.
Batting at number four Walters was run out for six, and only moments later Benning was trapped lbw for five with the score remaining on 61.
The following Saturday, Perth hit back on the second week and had University back in the pavilion for a paltry 67 in their second innings. Benning picked up another three wickets to go with his first innings haul. He completed the match with figures of 25 overs, 11 maidens, five wickets for 38.
In reply, Perth needed just 71 for the outright win. They completed the chase convincingly but sadly lost Benning, who opened the innings, for five. Nevertheless, Walters made sure that there were no slip ups as he took his side past the winning score finishing with 30 not out.
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