Last year’s finalist Mimosa Whirlwinds and Family Hotel Cootamundra continued last season’s form into this season recording comfortable wins against Young’s first division sides over the weekend.
The Aussie Hotel Coyotes went down to the Mimossa Whirlwinds in a high scoring encounter at Gus Smith Oval while the Family Hotel Crusaders were too strong for the S and C Young Ones.
Winning the toss and batting first the S and C Young Ones battled their way to just 129 off 36 overs against a Crusaders attack that struck early taking the wicket of Glenn Blizzard for one with the score on just two.
Fellow opener Will Munday tried valiantly to hold the innings together and was second top scorer with 33.
Top scorer for the Young Ones was middle order batsman Sam Davis who reached 40 before he lost is wicket to the bowling of Matt Berkrey who starred with the ball for Crusaders.
Berkrey finished with four for 15 off five overs.
He was well supported by Ryan Connell who took most of the workload for Crusaders bowling 10 overs and taking three wickets for 52 runs.
Young Ones lost their final four wickets for the addition of just one run in an innings where just four batsman reached double figures.
Crusaders ran down the Young Ones total in 37.3 overs making a good start to the run chase, reaching 40 before the loss of opener Hamish Pennington for 24.
Top scorer for Crusaders was Aaron Vitnell with 26.
Best of the bowlers for Young Ones were Callan Taylor with 2-26 off 8 overs and Jeff Sell with 2-21 off 4.3 overs.
In the other Division One match a blazing 110 off 91 balls in 97 minutes from Luke Gerhard which included 12 fours and five sixes set up an imposing total of 5 declared for 249.
He received great support from opener Mark Stimson who made 77 off just 88 balls including one six and 12 fours.
The Coyote bowlers really struggled to make an impression against last year’s title holders with Brett Humphrey’s taking 2-67 off 10 overs, Kris Scelly taking 2-47 off 10 overs and Sam Langford finishing with 1-40 off 10 overs.
Kyle McGovern finished wicketless as did Scott Neville who bowled just one over.
Set a mammoth task for victory the Coyotes started steadily and were able to make their way to 49 before the loss of opener Geoff Palmer who smashed a quick fire 38 off just 24 deliveries.
His innings included two sixes and five fours before he was bowled by Billy Winkley who was one of the stars with the ball.
B Murray also chipped in with the run chase smashing his way to 48 off 30 deliveries including five sixes before he fell to Luke Gerhard who bowled just the two overs in the innings.
S Neville was the only other Coyotes batsman to reach double figures, battling to put together 11 runs off 34 deliveries before he was caught by Winkley off the bowling of Stacey.
Winkley finished his bowling duties with 3-35 off eight overs proving a good backup for Mimosa’s top bowler Artie Stacey who had innings best figures of 4-67 off 10 overs.
The other two wicket takers for Mimosa were Luke Gerhard 1-8 and Johno Breust 1-1.
The Coyotes innings came to a close with the score on 160 off 31.1 overs.
Next week the Coyotes are away to Crusaders at Albert Park whilst the Young Ones have the bye.
