Collie’s B-grade team hosted Harvey-Benger Cricket Club in a T20 match to start cricket for 2019.
Collie won the toss and chose to bat first on the slightly green wicket.
Brayden Kent and Bailey Moloney got the team off to a solid start in the early overs, until Kent was caught for 13.
Mark Williams joined Moloney, and together they got the team total to 79 before both were dismissed in quick succession.
At 3/79, Blair Malatesta and captain Greg Tomasini steadied and created a handy partnership after the loss of two quick wickets.
The pair put on a 55-run partnership before Malatesta was dismissed for six with the score on 134.
Tomasini was also out for 48 soon after.
With some good work from the lower order of Matt Tanner, Gagan Sidhu and Jason Borrett, Collie managed a very defendable total of 6/148 from the 20 overs.
Best batsmen: Greg Tomasini 48, Mark Williams 30, and Bailey Moloney 27.
With runs on the board, Collie was looking for some early wickets to ensure Harvey-Benger was on the back foot from the start.
Steve Ireland and Jason Borrett bowled well but couldn’t get a breakthrough early.
Ireland finally got a breakthrough in his fourth over to get the first wicket with Harvey on 38.
A brilliant set of four overs from Gagan Sidhu, in the middle overs, turned the game in Collie’s favour, with a back-handed run-out and bowling the opposition’s captain out.
Sidhu was backed up with wickets at the other end from Mark Williams and Brayden Kent, along with some slick fielding from Ricky Colombera to ensure Collie stayed on top.
Some tight bowling from Matt Tanner and Jason Borrett at the end ensured a Collie win with Harvey-Benger managing 9/131 from its 20 overs.
Harvey-Benger fell 18 short and gave Collie the perfect start to 2019, keeping second place on the ladder.
Best bowlers: Gagan Sidhu 1/19 from 4, Steve Ireland 1/20 from 4, Jason Borrett 1/21 from 4.
