Peel Cricket Association: Falcons start out hot, Mandurah topples Irwinians in round one

After a disappointing campaign last season the Falcons showed they're eager to re-write the script with an outstanding first-up performance, as Jesse Buck and Brad Holmes led the charge in the win.

Buck was prolific with the ball, dismantling the Swans on his way to a four-wicket haul after Warnbro won the toss and elected to bat first.

Kaine May (29 runs) looked to have the visitors rolling early but fellow opener Daniel Compton was dismissed on one while skipper and third-in-line Ben O'Neill fell for a duck, courtesy of a magnificent catch reeled in by Scott Craig.

From there the Falcons bowlers produced a string of regular wickets.

Buck snared three of his four late in the piece to see Warnbro dismantled for 125 runs after their 50 overs, as the bowler kicked off his season with the figures of 4/25 off 10 overs.

From there it was a sublime partnership between Brad Holmes (40) and Matt Hill (30) that effectively ended any hopes Warnbro's bowling attack had of nabbing a victory.

The early loss of opener Daniel Jones had the Falcons at 1/16, but the duo carved out a 66-run stand to power the side to 2/82 as Holmes was eventually dismissed leg-before-wicket.

Jake Cassidy put in an admirable performance for the Swans collecting 3/25 to go with his 22-not out with the bat, but he couldn't lift them to a victory as Souths cruised past their total in just 28 overs.

A brilliant all-around performance from Jordan Bell led Mandurah to a close victory over 2018/19 grand finalists Singleton when the two clashed at Stan Twight Reserve on Saturday.

Bell was the pick of the Mandurah bowlers amassing figures of 4/28, before he spurred the batting effort on with 48 runs as his side claimed an important early win.

The Irwinians looked in the box seat early, however, as Tim Hutchison (51) and Brad Ranford (32) combined for an 82-run partnership to help absorb the early loss of opener Bryce Evans (eight).

But Bell eventually snared Hutchison's wicket and the loss of the Irwinians skipper triggered a steady yet sure collapse as Singleton found it hard to recover.

After 40 overs Singleton had notched 8/156, and Mandurah's chase was off to a horror start when Jesse Adams was run out without a run to his name leaving the side at 1/1.

Fortunately Justin Solly (57) and Bell were able to steady the ship, with some rock-solid batting leading to a 104-run stand between the two.

But a quick three wickets including the dismissals of Solly, Matthew Jenkinson and Bell put the game back on the edge.

In the end Mandurah held firm to collect the needed runs with just one over to go, snatching the round-one win.

A league-high knock of 83 runs from Josh Smith buoyed Pinjarra to a win over Halls Head in their season-opening meeting at Sir Ross McLarty Park on Saturday.

Smith blasted out 14 boundaries (two maximums) in what was a game-changing effort to help the Tigers hunt down Halls Head's total.

A middle-order collapse did little to help Halls Head's cause after they opted to bat first, with Jarod Little (eight), Leigh Burns (two), Nathan Howell (five), James Skeels (six) and Josh Fourez (zero) all dismissed on single-figure totals.

Opener Elliot Foote produced a steady 21 but eventually fell to Matt France's bowling, while a team-high 36-not out from tail-ender Scott Martin helped kick them to 8/139 off 50 overs.

From there Smith was able to power Pinjarra to a lofty position in the contest, with his 83 runs coming from just 81 deliveries in a superb knock for the opener.

France also chipped in with an unbeaten 30 runs to pair with his bowling figures of 2/11 off seven overs, helping guide the Tigers to victory as they surpassed the target in just 31 overs.

The clash between Baldivis and Shoalwater Bay was abandoned, with each side collecting three points on the ladder following the washout.