MILDURA West’s new Zimbabwean coach Davison Mbindi was given a tough initiation into Sunraysia cricket on Saturday with a resounding loss against Irymple.
Mbindi was run out for a duck as his young team was put to the sword by the powerful Irymple, which again looks primed to press for the premiership.
Irymple plundered the West attack from the outset, with last season’s player of the year Bryson Lush picking up where he left off with 37 off 36 and Billy Phelan scoring 17 off 16. Co-captain Dan Coghlan eased his way to 29 batting at three and his fellow skipper Mark Thomson put the icing on the cake with some crisp late hitting, scoring 39 not out off just 27 balls to lift the score to an imposing 7-176 off 30 overs in a reduced match.
In reply, West struggled to hit the ball off the square against Irymple’s attack, limping to 8-58 off 30 overs.
Tall Irymple quick Chase Stone was a class above, returning the incredible figures of 2-1 off six overs.
Ben Hallam tried hard for West with 18, but he occupied the crease for 81 balls as his team mates fell around him.
NEW RECRUIT STARS FOR NICHOLS POINT
NICHOLS Point’s new recruit Leigh Thomson-Mathews produced the most stunning innings of the opening round as the home side took care of Merbein South.
The right-hander ensured his team chased down the Saints’ total of 128 without too many dramas with a blistering early attack, scoring 67 off just 23 balls opening the innings.
He planted seven sixes in his brutal knock, including one over the top of cover.
It set Nichols Point on track for a relatively comfortable win, with a few late wickets flattering Merbein South on the scoreboard.
Earlier in the day, Merbein South fought hard for its 128 against an improved Nichols Point attack, which has added Matthew Boyd and Luke Coates and welcomed back Daniel Chapman. Although Coates didn’t bowl, Chapman celebrated a wicket on return.
But the damage came from different sources, with youngster Jack Norton and the more-experienced Dean Fulco chiming in with three wickets each.
Rob Roelofs and Dylan Vertigan both made 25 for Merbein South.
Fulco capped a solid opening game with 22 not out in the run chase as the Pointers passed with 22 overs to spare.
SETTLERS TOO STRONG FOR EAST
MILDURA Settlers proved it will again be among the major contenders with a polished opening round performance.
The reigning premiers did the job against Mildura East, with some familiar names doing the damage.
East struggled to get any momentum with the bat, struggling against the pace of Seamus Keogh, who took 4-29, and against the accuracy and guile of Mark Kerr, who conceded just 14 runs from eight overs of left-arm swing.
Brett Higgins top scored with 26, but chewed up 90 balls for East, and its total of 123 looked a long way short of par against the batting power of Setts.
Jason Morrison started in typical fashion with 22 off 14 balls and Luke Stanbrook (45) looked in solid touch, but East did put the brakes on Paddy Keogh, who scratched around for 9 off 53 balls.
But it mattered for little as Setts cruised home with eight overs and six wickets in hand.
