The Willetton Dragons’ first-grade side was the only senior team to secure a victory at the weekend, defeating the Melville Storm in a comprehensive 10-wicket win.
Willetton lost the toss and was sent into the field to bowl first and took a wicket in the first over, thanks to another Matt Hanna jaffa.
The home side never managed to get going thanks to tight spells from Stewart Hepburn (4/17 from 7 overs), Luke Holt (3/15 from 6.3) and Kade Povey (2/17 from 6 overs), dismissing the Storm for a miserly 73. However, with state-contracted fast bowlers in Mahli Beardman and Bryce Jackson, the game was far from over.
Brock Larance continued his strong start to the season with his best knock in Willetton colours since joining the club, taking down both of Melville’s opening bowlers with a blistering 58 from 23 balls.
Larance’s knock consisted of eight fours and three sixes, while his opening partner Kyle Walsh added three fours of his own in his unbeaten 16-run stand at the crease, handing the Dragons a 10-wicket victory in less than six overs.
The second, third and fourth-grade sides all struggled to chase down totals set by the Storm and fell short, ending their run of 3 wins to start the season.
The Dragons’ Colts and Premier T20 sides both kicked off their campaigns with mammoth wins at Hola Health Park on Sunday.
The Colts batted first and, thanks to Ethan Smiths 113 from 58 balls, which consisted of nine fours and 11 sixes, made their way to a huge score of 4-186.
A clinical bowling performance saw each bowler contribute with one wicket while captain Luke Holt led from the front with 3/13 from 4 overs.
The Premier T20 side also amassed a massive total of 7-190, with Brock Larance once again taking full toll of the Melville opening bowlers, making 38 from 16 balls and D’Arcy Short making 56 from 37 balls, highlighted by his 100m+ pull-shot that put fellow contacted player Mahli Beardman over the fence and into the lake.
Cameron Bancroft played with freedom and made his way to 48 from 31 deliveries.
Spinners D’Arcy Short (3/26) and Luke Holt (3/14) run through the top order, combining to take 6/40 from 8 overs through the middle after Melville got off to a strong start, being 1-93 in reply.
The visitors tumbled through the middle overs, losing 9/22 to be bowled out for 115.
The Willetton 1s will face the Bayswater-Morley Bears in a two-day match, over two weekends, at Hillcrest Park in Bayswater.
