Albany to defend championship title at Country Week finals
Albany’s best cricketers will face an unbeaten Geraldton side in Friday’s senior country week final at the WACA Ground.
The defending A-section champions started the five-day competition on the back foot after Bunbury and Districts caused a major upset at Abbett Park on Sunday.
The Blue Swans — whose three-peat was thwarted by Albany in 2024 — started the tournament in style, defending their total of 8-187 by bowling the Whalers out for 156. Albany’s O’Shea Durack was a shining light in a losing cause with 39no.
Albany recovered in round two on Monday defeating their Upper Great Southern at Sutherlands Park, making 6-203 before bowling out Uppers for 133 as Perth temperatures hit 44C.
It was Lincoln Joy’s turn to shine with a fast-paced 52 from 50 balls while Freddie Sharp was the Whalers’ standout bowler with 4-15 from 4.2 overs.
Resuming after a rest day on Tuesday, Wednesday’s games returned to a 50-over format after the first two fixtures were played as 40-over games under WA Cricket’s extreme heat policy.
Albany dismissed South Midlands for 62 at Breckler Park and chased down the total, losing 3-63.
Joe Stanley put in a top all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 31 and taking 3-14 from 10 overs.
In Thursday’s semifinals, Albany accounted for Eastern Goldfields at Charles Veryard Reserve by six runs to secure third position.
Durack and Joe Stanley shone with the ball — taking 4-14 from 5.3 overs and 3-25 from 10 overs respectively — while Coen Marwick made a quick fire 32.
