REIGNING premiers Nursery Ridge got off to a winning start last week, by 10 wickets over Millewa, while Ouyen had to settle for a draw with Tempy after rain interfered.
It was seemingly easy for Ridge, with gun all-rounder Shannon Bowen taking 2/8 and following up with an unbeaten 44, while Dave Tanner (3/19) and Kurt Freer (2/10) also impressed with the ball.
The Rams made 7/129 in their 35 overs, keeper Dom Leach making an unbeaten 32 and opener Ethan Munro scoring 30. Alex Morrish then struck twice before the heavens opened up.
At the Onion Patch, Ridge are always likely favourites, but Ouyen will want atone for their preliminary final defeat at the hands of the eventual champions and may have significant chips on their shoulder.
Whatever way it goes, this will be the game of the round.
Robinvale Euston v Millewa
CRICKET will return to Robinvale’s Len Arnott Oval at Riverside Park for the first time in 16 years XXXXtoday when they host Millewa.
The Rangers were knocked over for 90 last week against Cardross, batting for just under 25 overs, but with the likes of Jesse McGinty and Travis Shawcross inside the top five, the home side still boast plenty of scoring power.
Tom Lister can also score at the top of the order, while Lister and James Zappia were among the wicket takers last week.
The visitors were soundly beaten by Nursery Ridge last week by 10 wickets, managing just 62, but we know they have scoring power with Scottie Clark and Tim Plumridge at the crease.
Clark, Nick Clark and Matt Daly were all among the wicket-takers last year and some early scalps could put the pressure back on the home side.
Tempy v Cardross
IT’S always hard to know exactly where you stand after round 1, but Cardross would be feeling pretty good on the back of their seven-wicket win over new boys Robinvale Euston last week.
Jeremy and Ben Aworth combined for 73 runs at the top of the order, with the latter also taking three wickets against the Rangers. Although he sprayed the ball a couple of times, finishing with six wides, Noah Lanigan was also impressive with his 2/16.
After six wickets in nine games last season, Tempy’s Ryan Monaghan has almost already surpassed that mark, taking round best figures of 4/17 against Ouyen last week.
The batting order didn’t get a great opportunity to push their case with rain seeing their contest abandoned, but Ryan McKay, Jace Monaghan and Ben Mole all finished inside the top 10 scorers in 2020-21.This game might give a stronger indication of where each team sits in the pecking order this season.
