Mandurang beats Spring Gully in opening round of Emu Valley Cricket Association season

THE Mandurang Cricket Club celebrated a 66-run victory against Spring Gully in Saturday’s start to the Emu Valley Cricket Association’s division one season.A 149-run stand between Geoff Thompson and new captain Leigh Haw played a big part in Mandurang reaching 7-259 off 40 overs.Thompson hit top score of 72, and Haw scored 64.Rhys Williams captured 6-48 as Spring Gully was dismissed for 193 runs.Maiden Gully beat Axe Creek by 20 runs.Maiden Gully captain Paul Martin hit the day’s top score of 85 and Joel Hilson added 31 runs as Maiden Gully reached 189,Best of the Axe Creek attack was Levi Walker on 4-34, and Dean Mannes, 3-4.The Cowboys’ chase started well, with Jamie Dalrymple, 58, Dean Mannes, 34, and Brad Ead, 30, leading the way.Maiden Gully then struck back brilliantly to take 6-10.The Cowboys’ run of dismissals included four wickets being taken when the score was on 169.Leading wicket-takers for Maiden Gully were Neil Olsson, 3-30, and Brett Haw, 3-31.Marong hit off the 2010-11 campaign with a 64-run victory against Golden Gully.The Ross brothers, Scott and Jeremy starred for Marong.Scott Ross hit the Panthers top score of 67, and Jeremy hit 35.Dean Cosgriff captured 4-22 in Golden Gully’s innings of 112.Emu Creek upset Sedgwick by 15 runs.The Sedgwick line-up reached 176, with Alan Friswell, 55, and Dustin Elliott, 41, in form.Although Josh Hutchinson took 4-12, Emu Creek reached 8-191.West Bendigo beat United.Ken Bell, 66; Glen Wallis, 49; and captain Dion Prange, 4-37, starred for the Redbacks.Jayde Mullane, 60, and Michael Webb, 51 n.o., batted well for United.