New Collendina captain Nathan Walter’s superb knock was not enough to save his side from defeat against reigning premier Anglesea in their season opening one-day match on Saturday.
The Cobras won the toss and batted first as Walter struck an unbeaten 93 in his side’s total of 5/179 from 40 overs.
Walter combined in a 66-run fourth wicket partnership with wicket-keeper Max Sutton (31) and a 74-run stand for the fifth wicket with Jacob Gasior (23).
“Nathan has continued on from the back end of last season (where) in the semi-final against Ocean Grove he got a fifty and he has stepped up again,” Collendina Cricket Club coach Eddie Ellwood said.
Anglesea had the Cobras on the ropes early at 3/20 with the loss of top order trio Kade Norquay (0), Cameron Kavailiunas (5) and vice-captain Ben Ricardo (3).
Star Anglesea paceman Dale Kerr grabbed two of the first three wickets including Kavailiunas and Ricardo to finish with 2/15 from eight overs.
Walter said he was pleased with setting a target of 180 for the Kangaroos to chase down.
“We got 179 on the board and we were pretty happy with that, obviously we lost Corey (Walter) this year so that did hurt our batting stocks a bit, but we were really pleased to get (around) 180 on the board in Round 1,” he said.
In reply, Anglesea got off to a blistering start from Kangaroo openers including captain Ned Cooper (62) and a sparkling Stephen Jacimovic (82).
“Our bowling let us down pretty early, we gave them too many loose balls,” Walter said.
“You have got Ned Cooper out there especially, he is just going to make the most of it and that cost us early when we were bowling and the ground was extremely quick.”
Anglesea won with more than six overs to spare to finish at 3/183 from 33.1 overs.
Cobra trio Charlie Lamb (1/30), Jacob Gasior (1/38) and Craig Goodger (1/31) all took one wicket.
IN B1, Collendina went down by four wickets against Anglesea.
Anglesea tore through Collendina’s top order to have the visitors in trouble at 3/6. The Cobras were all out 136.
Collendina stalwart Dean Britt top scored with 46 and veteran Des Every chimed in with 33.
The home side in reply finished at 6/139 from 29.4 overs and won with more than 10 overs to spare.
Anglesea batsman Darcy Cooper (62) guided the Kangaroos to victory with a fine half-century.
IN C1, Barrabool defeated Collendina by five wickets in a hard fought game.
Batting first the home side compiled 8/183 from as Richard Pearson top scored with 48, while Dave Treharne remained 46 not out.
Pearson and Treharne combined in an 89-run seventh wicket partnership.
Barrabool clinched victory in the last over.
