A late spurt of runs from Chris Zadow and some electrifying bowling from Joseph Slade led Pinjarra to a round one victory over an undermanned South Mandurah side at Peelwood Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Sunny skies greeted the two teams for the start of the Peel Cricket Association season, but it was Pinjarra shining the brightest as the Tigers overcame some early batting woes to post a respectable score they would go on to defend comfortably.
Zadow and Slade were the driving forces for the batting and bowling attacks respectively, notching impressive numbers in their first outings for 2018/19.
The Tigers were off to a promising start after being sent in to bat first with openers Jamie Lee (18) and Jake Foley (24) combining for a partnership of 43 before the pair were dismissed leaving the visitors at 2/47.
James McLeod went for a duck after facing six balls and all of a sudden South Mandurah looked to be in the driver’s seat, but Zadow came in at eighth to blast the Tigers back on top.
He carved out 63 runs from just 47 deliveries to spur Pinjarra to 8/248 from their 50 overs.
Scott Atkin was the pick of the bowlers for Souths recording 4/42.
Souths’ run chase wasn’t off to a great start when they were sitting on 3/48, and things got worse when their tail was cleaned up by Matthew France.
Slade ended the day with the most efficient bowling figures collecting 3/18 from 10 overs (including three maidens), while France finished with 3/23.
The win gives Pinjarra an early top-two spot on the ladder.
Mandurah defeat Hillman
A stunning spell of bowling from Jordan Bell helped Mandurah claim a round-one win over Hillman on Saturday.
Bell took an outstanding 5/15 from 7.2 overs, derailing Hillman’s tail end and allowing Mandurah to defend their 9/201 total.
He also top-scored for Mandurah with the bat scoring 37 (equal with David Schonberger), while Ian Lattimore notched 36.
Sarath Mohan was the shining light for Hillman with 40 runs.
White Knights Baldivis defeat Warnbro Swans
A complete implosion with the bat saw Warnbro put to the sword in their season opener, as Baldivis cruised to victory.
Outside of Ben Doudle’s 40 runs no other Swan scored in double figures, as Mitch Brown claimed 4/21 with the ball for the White Knights keeping Warnbro’s total to 107.
Baldivis surpassed that in just 22 overs, with opener Wesley Steele’s knock of 49-not out accounting for almost half of the needed total.
Fellow opener Dylan Gray went for 36 as Baldivis moved into first on the ladder.
Singleton defeat Halls Head
The Irwinians started their premiership tilt in style when Chris Loveridge, Danny Woollard and Tim Hutchison teamed up to see them past Halls Head.
Michael Chappell hit 42 runs for the visitors but Loveridge’s 4/45 helped keep them to 180 from their 50 overs.
From there it was an outstanding opening partnership between Woollard (89) and Hutchison (62) that secured the win, as the duo put together a 149-run stand before captain Bryce Evans (18 not out) helped finish things off in the 38th over.
Shoalwater Bay defeated by Waroona
Matt Thomas’ knock of 76 gave the reigning premiers a huge boost in their opening victory over Shoalwater Bay on Sunday.
The opener hit 15 boundaries on his way to the total, top-scoring for the side as they hit 214 in their opening innings for the season.
Shoalwater fired back with half-centuries to Nicholas Mulligan (52) and Josh Senior (54), but Keren Ugle’s cracking 4/18 bowling figures from 5.3 overs helped the Warriors end the day in front.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
