In blisteringly cold conditions on Saturday, Central Hotel scored a surprise win over pre-season favourites the Aussie Hotel Coyotes to kick off their South West Slopes Cricket League (SWSCL) campaign.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A heavy outfield and a slow pitch featured heavily in the day’s play but at stumps only five runs separated the two sides with Central Hotel scoring 9/116, besting the Coyotes’ 111.
Central Hotel’s opening bowler John Stephens attributed the win to his side’s to tight bowling.
“We had to be patient and disciplined and in the end that’s what got us over the line.
“They bowled quite well but we just managed to strangle them out of the game.
“Aaron Kemp bowled good line and length and took three wickets and Adam Twyford bowled a really good spell at the end to get us home,” Stephens said.
The win gets Central Hotel off to a flying start in the Delta Agribusiness Cup, positioning them well at this early stage.
“Having had so much time off we’re a bit rusty so it’s important to win these early games,” Stephens said.
Central Hotel has a bye next weekend but is then in for a tough few games, facing reigning premiers Mimosa Whirlwinds and then the Coyotes again in rounds five and six.
The Whirlwinds got their title defence off to a good start, beating S&C Young Ones in another close match.
Batting first, the Whirlwinds notched up 118 runs off 35 overs.
The Young Ones got off to a disastrous start, losing both their opening batsman within the first ten minutes for just five runs.
The middle order steadied the ship a little but wickets continued to fall and the Young Ones were eventually bowled out for 110 off 34 overs.
In the Dunk Insurance Cup, Stockinbingal was easily defeated by the Shamrock Hotel Leprechauns who chased down Stockinbingal’s total of 90 in just 14 overs for the loss of only three wickets.
Barry Grace Oval in Wallendbeen was still too wet to use so the Wallendbeen vs Albion Hotel match was abandoned.
The final two games saw Temora Ex-Services Renegades beat the Temora Bowling Club Tigers and the Aussie Hotel Scorchers just edge out Criterion Gunners.
After a two-week delay, the SWSCL is finally in full swing but with more rain forecast later in the week, it remains to be seen whether it will continue next weekend