Undefeated so far in the WACA First-Grade pennant competition, Bayswater-Morley are in a favourable position after the first day of their contest with Gosnells at Hillcrest Reserve on Saturday.  Batting first, the Bears compiled a total of 9-226 before declaring fifteen minutes from stumps to allow a possible two overs at the visitors before the close.

After bowling three dot balls, Bayswater left-arm speedster Mathew Inness took two wickets in consecutive balls to bring the day to an abrupt end.  His first ball next week may bring an inspired hat-trick.  Highlights of the Bayswater innings were solid contributions from Rhys May [34], Ryan Phillimore [20], and Brendan Mills [47].

But, once again the innings of the day was that of eighteen year-old opener Matthew Birrell whose 89 in a marathon 279 minute stay at the crease stole the show.  Birrell played all his junior cricket at Mount Lawley but at seventeen signed to Bayswater under the WACA zoning rules.  In his four knocks this season he has posted three scores above 80 and compiled 287 runs at the impressive average of 95.66.  A dour right-hander, he has displayed extraordinary application and concentration for one so young and almost certainly has assured himself a place in the Western Australian Under-Nineteen representative team to contest the National Championships later in the year.

The best of the Gosnells bowling performance was shared by Shane Terace who took 4-62 and Luke Pomersbach with 2-63.  The Bayswater Third-Grade are in an unbeatable position, while both the Second and Fourth grades were washed out after an early afternoon deluge at Sutherlands Park.

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