CALIFORNIA Gully, Spring Gully, West Bendigo and Sedgwick were the winners on the opening night of the Emu Valley Cricket Association’s inaugural Twenty20 competition on Tuesday.

While the EVCA has previously played its 10-over-a-side Bash for Cash that was last held in 2015-16, this is the first time the association has held a T20 competition.

The closest game of the night was at Spring Gully when the Crows beat Mandurang by one wicket with three balls to spare.

Chasing the Rangas’ 9-148, the Crows needed the last pair of Liam Pilcher (7) and Nick Skeen (2) to get over the line nine down in the final over and get its campaign off to a winning start.

• California Gully made a mess of the Marong batting line-up.

On the back of Shaun O’Shea’s outstanding 4-3 off four overs, the Cobras routed Marong for just 46 in 13.3 overs.

The Panthers did well to scrounge their way to 46 given they had been 6-8.

California Gully took eight overs to reply with 3-49.

• In other games, West Bendigo (7-166) defeated United (128) by 38 runs and Sedgwick (5-145) was too good for Emu Creek (5-136).

The only half-century of the opening round was scored by West Bendigo’s Gary Singh, who belted 52 off 30 balls, which included  nine boundaries and one six against the Tigers.

Round two will be played next Tuesday night.

……………………………...

• Top performers:

BATTING:

52 – Gary Singh

(West Bendigo)

49 – Linton Colclough

(Mandurang)

46 – Greg Thomas

(Sedgwick)

40 – Tyler James

(West Bendigo)

33 – Dooley Niemann

(United)

……………………………...

BOWLING:

4-3 – Shaun O’Shea

(California Gully)

3-13 – Tom Wilson

(Marong)

3-16 – Harry Whittle

(United)

3-21 – James Austin

(California Gully)

3-23 – Beau Roy-

Clements (Mandurang)

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