Jindivick waltzes to 10-wicket win

by Samuel Laffy
Jindivick (0/117) def. Ellinbank (113)

A sensational opening stand between Sean Viotto and Harrison Moore helped Jindivick waltz to a 10-wicket win over Ellinbank in their season opener, as the Jumping Jacks' duo dispatched the Eagles' attack to all corners of Kydd-Parke Reserve.

With only a middling total to chase, Viotto and Moore began somewhat watchfully in the opening handful of overs against Harmanpreet Singh and Timothee Mashado, before unfurling a volley of boundaries as they decided they had the measure of Ellinbank's bowlers.

None of the six bowlers used by the Eagles across the 13.3 overs of carnage were capable of exerting control, with Jindivick's openers dominant as they reached 0/117.

Earlier in the day, the target was made possible by Harjot Singh's late-innings wiles, and the parsimony of Jordan Smith and Shane Hoskins with the new-ball.
Bailey Helps (17 from 40) and Adam Campbell (26* off 42) briefly boosted Ellinbank's chances, but Singh (5/37) relentlessly attacked the stumps – with four of his five victims bowled – to dismiss the Eagles for just 113.

Western Park (4/181) def. Trafalgar (116)
Off-season rumours abound that John Allsop had finally pulled the pin on his cricketing career – much to the relief of bowlers across the WDCA – but Trafalgar's new-ball bowlers no doubt sighed with dismay as they saw 'Mantis' stride to the crease in their round two clash with Western Park.
Indeed, the veteran showed there were plenty of runs left in his tank as his half-century helped the Warriors claim a 65-run win over the Ships.
Alongside Sam Cheeseman (who struck 28 from 58), and his son Ben (who looked in superb from with 41 off 85), Allsop ensured Trafalgar's attack were forced on the backfoot early in the piece, and although he struck just two fours and a singular towering six in his 74-ball 71, his ability to effortlessly work the ball into gaps saw Western Park post 4/181 from their allotted overs.
In reply, Liam Durkin (a spritely 35 from 56) impressed for the Ships, and his partnership with Kaleb Chapman saw Trafalgar in with a chance at 2/63. However, the youthful exuberance of Lukas Black (2/23), Will Burn (2/27), and Lenny Barake (2/24) soon ended their hopes; their confidence building with every scalp as the Ships were bundled out for 116 in the 35th over.

Warragul (7/184) def. Catani (168)
A commanding all-round performance from Amandeep Singh helped Warragul snatch a 16-run win over Catani in their division three clash, with the Gulls emerging victorious despite a superb Cats fightback.
Having posted 7/184 from their allotted overs – with Singh blasting 61 at the top of the order in a knock replete with his favoured scythes through the off-side – Warragul began their defence full of confidence, with runs on the board often counting for almost double in the early part of the season.
It appeared the Gulls would romp to victory after reducing Catani to 6/97 (with Mitchell Bradshaw's haul of 4/23 a feature) but Bradley McDonald (a typically feisty 58) and Jackson Peacock (37) weren't about to go down with a fight.
A 40-run ninth-wicket stand between Peacock and Nathaniel Wade (who chimed in with 18) threatened to cause a boilover and with four overs to go the game was well and truly in the balance. However, Singh had the last laugh, trapping Peacock in front and luring Wade into a false stroke to see Catani dismissed for 168.