Manjimup break Forestry’s winning streak in cricket thriller

In the third local derby of the season, Manjimup scraped home for their first victory over top-placed Forestry in a low-scoring game to sneak back up to second on the ladder with one match remaining in the season.

Manjimup won the toss and decided to bat, which looked a bad decision when a tight opening bowling partnership between Dan Ward and Blake Johnston had Manjimup in early trouble at three for 27 in the 15th over, with runs hard to come by.

Luke Murphy came to the crease and upped the tempo with some attacking batting, but when he was dismissed for 57, Forestry turned the screws and Manjimup was all out for 116 in the 33rd over. Ben Lagana (15) and Jack Muir (12) were the other contributors.

Duncan Wells knocked over the Manjimup tail with some well-flighted off-spin, finishing as Forestry’s best bowler with figures of 4-20 off five-and-a-half overs.

Forestry’s innings got off to a worse start than Manjimup, with some great bowling from Jonathan Millar (2-18) and Dane Raper (2-37) destroying the top order, and having them in all sorts of strife at four for 23.

Brock Tempra (30) and Kane Aitken (14) swung the momentum back in Forestry’s favour with a solid partnership until Manjimup captain Jozef Parkinson (3-22) bowled a deadly accurate spell consistently attacking the stumps and putting Manjimup in sight of victory.

With form batsmen Tempra and Dave Jeffery at the crease, it was still anyone’s game until Luke Murphy was brought into the attack and with some sharp spin was able to take the final two wickets, leaving Forestry all out for 82.

Next week is a huge game for Manjimup at home with a win against Boyup Brook enough to secure second spot on the ladder, while Forestry are at home against Pemberton and hoping to head into finals in winning form.