Reigning premier Kyabram Fire Brigade opened the Goulburn Murray Cricket season with a commanding win over new team Leitchville-Gunbower at Gunbower on Saturday.
The Flames skittled the home side for 51, with former Brigade premiership player Tyler Jones with 13 the only combine batsman to reach double figures as Jackson Barnett, Rob Salter and Tristan Watson carved through the hosts’ innings in 33.3 overs.
Barnett claimed 4/11 and Salter 3/13 from their nine overs while Tongala recruit Watson picked up 2/10 off five overs.
In reply the Flames lost three wickets, including two run outs, covering the combine’s score with Scott Morris (19 not out) and skipper Brenton Campbell (13 not out) clinching the premiership points for the visitors.
Cooma restricted Lockington Bamawm United to 7/154 in the clash at Bamawm but could muster only 61 in reply, with skipper Michael Hill’s 19 the best contribution.
Six of the home team’s batsmen got into double figures and Cooma didn’t have a bowler to take more than one wicket with Hill’s 1/28 off nine overs the most economical spell.
Rochester’s batsmen hit out against Echuca South, piling on an impressive 9/335 on the back of stellar knocks from Sean Williams, Charlie Ryan and Dylan Cuttriss.
Williams plundered 81 off 91 balls with 13 boundaries, Ryan cracked 76 off 49 balls with 12 fours and Cuttriss chipped in with 61 off 46 deliveries with 12 boundaries.
Shaun Haffenden was the most successful South bowler, with 3/62 off his nine overs.
In reply, the visitors collapsed for 44 in 24.5 overs, with pacemen Angus Martin (3/21) Myles Wade (2/8) and Cory Jacobs (2/7) dictating the terms for Rochester.
Last season’s runner-up Echuca launched its season with a solid win over Moama.
Echuca openers Brendan Moyle (27) and Curtis Townrow (71) laid the foundation for a solid score of 233 with an 85-run stand despite a fine spell of bowling from Moama’s Clay McGregor, who took 6/30 off seven overs.
This Saturday Kyabram Fire Brigade hosts Rochester in a blockbuster, Moama tackles Cooma at Moama, new side Nondies Cohuna makes its debut against Echuca South at Echuca while Leitchville-Gunbower is home to Lockington Bamawm United.