Queenscliff got its BPCA A1 Grade season to a fine start with a five-wicket win against Ocean Grove.
Ocean Grove batted first and was off to a superb start with Shaun Fankhauser (34 from 52 deliveries) and Jake Taylor (24 off 57) putting on 70 for the opening wicket.
But the innings never recovered after Fankhauser was dismissed. The Grubbers lost 5-11 with Fletcher Long (12) the only other batter to reach double figures.
Slow bowler Lachie Stott was the catalyst with 4-20 while Lachie Kidd took 2-24 and young spinner Mitch Potter was superb with 2-10 from eight overs for the Coutas.
A final total of 115 was never going to be enough, but when Taylor Harvey removed dangermen Frank Mileto and Tim Frankenburg with only 20 on the board, things looked interesting.
Potter then played a mature innings with 46 from 87 balls to earn the three votes and Ollie Skurrie put on the finishing touches with an unbeaten 31 to guide Queenscliff home with five wickets and nine overs to spare.
Harvey was superb for the Grubbers with 4-29 from eight overs and looks in good early season form.
Ocean Grove defeated Queenscliff in B1 Grade by 66 runs.
Isaac Saunders made 61 from 69 balls and Jarryd Nairn hit 37 to give the Grubbers a terrific score of 9-201. Noah Brooks found some early season form with a valuable 20 from 33 deliveries and Sam McGlynn whacked an undefeated 14 from 11 at the end.
Queenscliff fell well short of the target, being bowled out for 135 with McGlynn grabbing four wickets and Dylan Thorley taking three.
Ocean Grove had a first up bye in B2 Grade and the one-day competition gets underway this weekend.
