Amatch-winning lower order partnership of 66 runs between two teenagers was the decisive factor in the Millicent Black Hats winning their round two match at home on Saturday in the Millicent/Naracoorte Cricket Association.
After a victory in round one at Naracoorte, the reigning premiers have made a perfect start to the 2024/25 season.
The home side welcomed the Lucindale Roos to their Norm Facey Oval fortress with visitors having an opening round win due to a forfeit.
Home ground skipper Mitchell Nitschke won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat.
Openers Cambell Hateley and Teej Lawlor reached double figures as did Ashton Lindner but the rest of the top and middle order failed.
The Black Hats plummeted to 8/97 and it was left to Ryder Linder (25) and Ellis Cushion (67) to carry the day.
Cushion in particular was in good touch as his runs came at almost one a ball.
Seven of his shots reached the boundary and one cleared it.
The Black Hats were dismissed for 163 in the final over.
Lucindale used six bowlers and they all claimed either one of two wickets.
The visitors did not help their cause by conceding 20 sundries.
In reply, Lucindale made a solid start with 31 runs for the first wicket.
Thereafter, it was carnage with the visitors dismissed for 77 in the 25th over.
Opener Nathan James top-scored with 29 while the next best was sundries with 17.
Hateley completed a fine double as he took the bowling honours with 4/18.
Naracoorte Warriors 10/191 def. Rendelsham 10/101
Rendelsham appeared to be going well at the change of innings when they hosted Naracoorte Warriors in their first match for 2024/25.
The visitors were dismissed for 119 in the 31st over with only opener Lochlan Dolphin (32) and Brad Redding (38) getting into double figures.
The wickets were shared among Dylan Clough (four), Patric k McGrath (three) and Jake Wight (two).
With Rendelsham fielding five “fill-ins”, its batting quality was unknown.
The home side collapsed to 9/72 and only a swashbuckling 22 in even time from veteran wicketkeeper and number 11 batsman Dwayne Gray got Rendelsham into three figures.
Dolphin along with Nicholas Bald and Andrew Fitgerald took three wickets each.
Naracoorte Townies 9/188 defeated Kingston 10/186
There was a thrilling conclusion to a high scoring match between the Naracoorte Townies and Kingston at Wortley Oval at Naracoorte.
The home side reached the target in the final over and with the last pair at the crease.
Earlier, Kingston was sent into bat and was dismissed for 186 in the 35th over.
It was tough going in reply but the Townies applied themselves well.
