Baldivis’ White Knights Too Strong for Harvey-Benger in Retravision Peel Premier League T20 Cup first bout

Harvey-Benger Cricket Club showed plenty of fight during their first bout in the Retravision Peel Premier League T20 Cup last week, but ultimately fell 38 runs short against Baldivis’ White Knights. Competing at Peelwood Reserve in Halls Head, the Baldivis team managed to set a strong platform with a total of 8-156, led by a commanding innings from Eric Botha, whose 52 off 32 balls included four boundaries and two cleanly struck sixes. Bradley Williams (30 off 21) and John Sanders (33 off 18) added valuable middle-overs momentum, lifting the scoring rate and punishing any loose deliveries. Harvey-Benger’s bowlers worked hard throughout, with Matthew Chave leading the way with 3-39, including crucial breakthroughs in the death overs. Brandon Hughes-Philpott set the tone early with a tidy spell of 2-16 off four overs, while Kurt Thompson and Jarod Maughan chipped in with important wickets. Chasing 156, Harvey-Benger made a steady but cautious start before early wickets stalled momentum. Captain Francois Roelofsz (7) and opener Kiran Kullar (13) couldn’t quite convert their starts, leaving the middle order with work to do. Monil Patel (28 off 22) provided much-needed impetus, timing the ball beautifully and rotating the strike well. Robert Turner’s lively 27 off 16 briefly swung momentum back, but his dismissal via a sharp piece of fielding proved a turning point. A series of run-outs and tight overs hampered Harvey-Benger’s chase, with White Knights’ bowlers, especially Waheguru Dhillon (4-24) and William Tarrant (2-13), executing their plans with precision. Despite flashes of resistance, Harvey-Benger were bowled out for 118, unable to form the partnerships needed to mount a serious challenge. Harvey-Benger will need to regroup ahead of an important clash in the Ben Ward Cup, where they face Waroona on Tuesday, November 18 at Peelwood Reserve.