Slodecki, Renton star in Country Cricket Championships

The Championships were played between January 3-11 in Newcastle, with each state sending both a Men’s and Women’s team to compete in the annual tournament, which brings together the finest cricketers from rural areas across the country.

A top-order batter who plies his trade for Marist Cricket Club in Bunbury, Slodecki was the mainstay of WA’s batting lineup throughout the tournament, compiling 245 runs at 27.22 from nine innings.

The standout performance of his Championships came against ACT, where he struck 62 off just 39 balls, including five fours and four sixes in a dynamic display of ball striking.

Renton, a tall quick bowler who hails from Eaton, was the most consistent bowler for WA across the eight-day tournament, snaring 13 wickets at 19.69, including a best of 3-24 and two other three-wicket hauls.

The Men’s team were competitive across their nine matches, producing three wins and a couple of close losses to finish in fifth place.

A confidence-building victory against the ladder-leading Queensland proved to be the highlight of the Championships for WA, with Lincoln Joy (38*) and Adam France (35*) guiding their side across the line.

The Women’s team produced plenty of positives throughout the Championships, with the girls only narrowly missing the semi-final spots, despite only tallying two wins from their ten matches.

Sending a young and inexperienced group, WA came up against strong opposition from each team, with several former WNCL and WBBL players taking the field for their respective states.

The performances of Laura Croft were promising, with the opening batter finishing as the leading-run scorer for WA, striking 141 runs.

Leg spinner Megan Bam was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with seven wickets over ten matches, showcasing her impressive skillset.

View Men’s Results here

View Women’s Results here