GLADSTONE has made light work of Waratahs in the opening round of the Orange District Cricket Association second grade season, blasting its way to a comprehensive five-wicket win at Jack Brabham 2 on Saturday.
Led largely by a blistering knock of 70 from all-rounder Mick Sullivan, Gladstone chased down Waratahs’ first innings total of 144 in just 18 overs.
Sullivan hit nine fours and four sixes to canon Gladstone out of the blocks before he was removed by Jarrod Chambers (3-12) with the score at 1-120 at the 14-over mark.
Waratahs’ batsman Rob Lofaro was the mainstay of his side’s innings, hitting 36 in his team’s total of all out for 144.
The wickets were shared among the Gladstone bowlers, with Sullivan (3-29), quick Ben McAlpine (3-25) and Jason Sell (3-12) each nabbing three wickets.
A number of sides kicked off their season’s in fine fashion over the weekend.
CYMS started its title defence with a hard fought 24-run win over an under-strength Cavaliers.
CYMS batted first to compile 7-174 from its 36 overs, with Michael Campbell and Tom Evans the top two scorers in a rounded team effort with the bat, scoring 32 and 26 respectively.
Cavs quick Charles Foran bowled well to restrict the big-hitting CYMS, taking 2-32 from eight overs.
But CYMS’ bowlers proved too strong.
The green and golds bowled smart lines and good lengths to restrict Cavs to 6-150, 25 runs short of victory.
Orange City edged out Centrals by five wickets.
Chasing 146 for victory, Orange City were made to work for the first innings points and only just made it, with a knock of 56 not out from Bobby Rosser guiding City to 5-149 with just two overs to spare.
In other second grade games, Metro A defeated City Warriors by 35 runs.
In the Centenary Cup, Fahys defeated Kellys by six wickets in the first CYMS derby of 2012-13.
Set 154 for victory, Fahys made it to 4-176 with a knock of 68 not out from Tom Belmonte leading the way for Fahys.
In the only other Centenary Cup match of the weekend, Kinross edged out Orange City by 23 runs in a low scoring affair.
