North Sportsman’s has sent a shockwave through Pool B in the Dycer Constructions Big Bash after thumping big-rival East Gambier at Marist Park.
The pattern of the game was established in the opening over when the Bulldogs could not cope with Tim Young’s left-arm bullets.
Split Enz may believe history never repeats, but for the second time this summer East opener Leigh Von Duve started the game with a golden duck, while Connor Little’s stumps were skittled three balls later.
Emerson Marks and Kev Thomson showed signs of a recovery until Tom Robertson went on a rampage.
On his Tigers’ T20 debut Robertson put the big wickets of Marks, Thomson and Alex Hentschke in his back pocket to leave East on the ropes at 5/37.
Ben Hentschke and new captain Travis Younghusband offered some brief resistance with the former compiling the top individual score of 17 until normal service resumed.
Nick McInerney picked up three late victims, but the last-wicket pair of Marc Roberts and Jack Lawrence showed some fight to ensure the Bulldogs reached the 20th over.
Their 21-run stand was the highest of the innings with Roberts searching for the boundary and débutante Lawrence showing composure opening the face to third man.
But the fun was finished by McInerney and East’s total of 91 was never going to be enough.
McInerney hit the first ball for four and the momentum did not slow down despite the opener falling to Thomson shortly after.
Jake Schutz and Robertson eyed an early finish and found the boundary rope with regularity.
The pair had already knocked off half of the target, but Schutz’s knock ended on 17 courtesy of a Ben Robinson specky with the gloves on.
The diving one-handed screamer injected some life into the East fielders as Mitch Lewis and Robertson also ventured back to the pavilion at a similar stage.
Robertson’s wicket was pivotal after he cruised to 35, but Elliott Fisher picked up from where the number 3 left off.
Fisher’s unbeaten 25 ensured North crossed the line with five wickets and 27 balls in hand to get the club’s new World Series retro style kit a perfect start in life.
