A final over blitz from Sam Henley helped Cressy record a thrilling 17-run over Diggers.
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Tasked with scoring quick runs at the death, Henley hit Kris Burgess for four consecutive sixes in the final over to see his side to a total of 140 and finish the innings on 47 not out.
Diggers coach Andy Bassett took charge of his side’s run chase, scoring freely while opposing boss Damian Whybrow (three wickets) and Danny Bennett and Harold Claridge (two apiece) made their way through the batting line-up.
When Bassett finally departed for 68, Diggers’ resistance was broken, handing Cressy a confidence-boosting win to start the season.
ACL took just 12 overs to see off newly-promoted LEGANA at Uni Oval, racing to a seven-wicket win on the back of a catastrophic bowling performance from Simon Chappell.
After Legana openers Luke Layock and Amal Ra put on 39 to start the innings, Chappell picked up three wickets in his first over and kept it tight from thereon to finish with the astonishing figures of 5-10.
Josh Allen hit some late runs before John Kedey (3-10) swept aside the tail to bowl the Durhams out for 83.
In reply, the Bluebacks lost two early wickets but were never to be beaten as Drew Clark (48 not out) powered his side to victory.
BEAUTY POINT made a good fist of a tough start to the season in its home clashes with last year’s finalists Hadspen and Longford.
After being sent into the field by the Chieftains in the morning game, Beauty Point found going tough early, with Nathan Balym notching up his first half-century of the season.
But a great spell from Jayden Hinds (4-31) helped the Tamar Valley Tigers take 6-34 at the end of the innings to restrict Hadspen to 9-119.
Opener Brennan Creswell made 27 to give his side the best possible chance, but three-wicket hauls from Nick Price and Darren Spinks ensured Beauty Point finished 29 runs shy of the target on 8-90.
LONGFORD also tasted success at Beauty Point, securing a five-wicket win thanks to a steadying innings from coach Josh Adams.
Bowling first, the Country Tigers had Beauty Point reeling at 7-46 before a late flurry of runs from Matthew Varga and Jayden Hinds took the total to 8-89.
In reply, Longford were struggling at 5-45 before Adams (33) teamed up with Trent Spencer to see the reigning premiers home.
Top performers
Andy Bassett 68
Nathan Balym 50
Drew Clark 48*
Sam Henley 47*
Simon Chappell 5-10
Jayden Hinds 4-31
Darren Spinks 3-8
John Kedey 3-10
Brett Martin 3-11