CASTERTON DISTRICT started its A Grade season on a winning note, defeating St Andrew’s by 30 runs at Island Park.
New skipper, Kaden Humphries, called correctly at the coin toss for the home side and he quickly told the visitors that Casterton District would bat, as he and Rick Killey took to the crease for the first over.
The pair made a cautious start to the game, as they looked to get settled rather than chase quick runs with the field up for the first nine overs as Humphries fell for only eight.
Killey was next to fall after his 13 runs came from 58 balls and halfway through the 18th over the score had advanced to only 30.
After such a slow start, the top order needed to rapidly increase the run rate if the side was going to post a target the bowlers could defend.
Kane Forbes joined Michael Jarrad and Forbes took the role of attacker, while Jarrad was happy to look to bat out the overs.
The pair added 94 for the third wicket, but with the first ball of the 40th over, Forbes fell two runs shy of a deserved 50 when he failed to get of the ball from Brendan Huf and Fraser Hill took his first A grade catch.
With only six overs remaining, the batsmen looked to hit out to get as many runs on the board as possible with 41 runs being added from the last 35 deliveries, as Jarrad finished with 65-not-out.
The final tally of 4-165 was only a par score for the venue and the St Andrew’s bowlers had to be happy with their performances, as Huf grabbed two wickets, but it was James Guthrig (1-18) who was the best of the attack.
It was Huf and Guthrig who took strike in the chase after the tea break and these batsmen would still be at the crease when the drinks were taken after 23 overs with 69 on the board.
It fell to 15-year-old Josh Jones to make the vital breakthrough, as he had Guthrig (31) caught by his skipper to claim his maiden A grade wicket.
The opening partnership of 79 set the foundation for the run chase, but the Casterton District bowlers were not about to allow the visitors any cheap runs, as the attack continued to bowl line and length.
Aside from Huf (63) and Guthrig, no other St Andrew’s batsman came close to reaching double figures, as Huf was dismissed with the side still needing 44 runs from the final four overs.
The Drews collapsed from 1-97 to be all out for 135, as the Casterton District bowlers claimed 9-38 in 71 balls to see the visiting batsmen wear a path to and from the wicket.
Killey and Logan Gibbs were the pick of the bowlers with each player taking 2-20 from their respective nine overs, while Jake Balzan cleaned up the Drews tail with 3-17.
