The defending champions won by 126 runs at Windridge Oval in Rochester and it's going to take a very good cricket side to deny them back-to-back titles.

The day one win was set up by a brilliant bowling performance.

Opening bowlers Adam Decicco (2-14) and Ash Quinn (3-13) sliced through the Goulburn Murray top-order.

At one stage Goulburn Murray fell to 8-56 before tailenders Will Devlin (27 not out) and Charlie Hinks (17) lifted their side to a final total of 101.

Matt Hinks (21 off 77 balls) was the only batsman in the top eight to reach double figures.

Any chance of a Goulburn Murray revival was torn to shreds by Murray Valley opening pair Wian Van Zyl and Riley Gow.

They smashed 47 off the first five overs on their way to an opening stand of 79 before Gow fell for 42 off 32 balls.

Van Zyl, a South African import who has made two double centuries in one-day club cricket for Cobram already this summer, made 71 off 69 balls.

Angus Campbell added 30 for Murray Valley before the rest of the order fell away. Murray Valley was dismissed for 227 in the 48th over. Jack Russel (3-44) was the leading wicket-taker for Goulburn Murray.

Gisborne look set to be Murray Valley's number one challenger.

Gisborne opened its campaign with a comfortable 104-run win over Emu Valley at Dower Park.

A 114-run stand for the third wicket between Kieran Atkin (74 off 77 balls) and Adam Dudderidge (67 off 76 balls) set up Gisborne's imposing total of 264. Taylor Stevenson (48 off 32 balls) did some late damage with the bat.

Greg Thomas (3-31) and Peter Moore (3-40) were the best with the ball for Emu Valley.

In reply, Emu Valley's innings couldn't have started much worse.

Openers Scott Ross and Greg Thomas both fell for zero before Xavier Walsh (4) and Rick Ladson (4) joined them in the sheds to leave Emu Valley 4-19.

Trevor Pickthall (31) and Dallas Gill (20) steadied the ship, while skipper Leon Beatty (39) and Peter Moore (45) put on 64 for the seventh wicket to ensure Emu Valley made a respectable total of 160.

Gisborne opening bowlers Joel Garbutt (3-13) and Monte McCague (3-26) were impressive.

Wangaratta's return to division one action was a winning one.

Last year's division two premiers scored a hard-fought 20-run win over Castlemaine at Moon Oval in Rochester.

Opening bowler Joe Thomas took 3-16 as Wangaratta restricted Castlemaine to 131.

Matthew Bint (27) and number 10 John Watson (22 not out) batted well for Castlemaine.

Reid Clarke (33), Jacob Schonafinger (25) and Tom Jones (20) put Wangaratta in a strong position at 3-96.

Jones' departure sparked a collapse of 3-4 and Castlemaine was back in the game.

However, Andrew Squires (26) and James Carboon (16 not out) batted well to see Wangaratta over the line.

Wangaratta finished 8-151 off 50 overs. Brayden Wright (3-57) was the most successful Castlemaine bowler.

Coalc scored a thrilling two-wicket win over Red Cliffs on day one of the division two carnival.

Chasing Red Cliffs' total of 9-183 at North Bendigo, Colac snuck over the line with just two wickets and two overs in hand.

Billy Bernet hit five fours and one six in his innings of 64, while Alex inglis (36), Ben Vicary (32) and a late cameo from Charles Johns (26 off 17 balls) were also key performances in the win.

Red Cliffs' Ben Mole (4-28) produced one of the best bowling spells of the day.

Earlier in the day, Conor Schultz (39) led the way with the bat for Red Cliffs, while Vicary (3-27) was best with the ball for Colac.

Portand edged out Grampians by 15 runs at Weeroona Oval in the only game of the round where both teams scored more than 200 runs.

Nick Wills (52), Sam Wilson (48), Steve O'Brien (47) and Jake Wilson (44) relished the good batting conditions in Portland's total of 219.

Lachlan Oddie (4-32) put the clamps on with the some good bowling for Grampians.

Michael Harricks (67) and Sam Cocks (55) did their best to get the Grampians over the line, but they fell 15 runs short.

Ashley Turney took four wickets for Portland.

At Camp Reserve in Castlemaine, Grassmere made a strong start by defeating Northern Districts.

After winning the toss and bowling, Grassmere dismissed Northern Districts for 163.

Lachlan Glare (3-39) impressed with the ball for Grassmere. Skipper Josh Novoselek (36) and Garry Lolicato (30) batted well for Northern Districts.

Grassmere overcame the loss of three early wickets to post 192.

Captain Patrick Mahony made 34, while Glare capped a fine day by compiling 34 off 38 balls.

The highlight of division three was Wimmera-Mallee's one-run win over Upper Loddon at Wade Street.

From 6-54, Wimmera-Mallee did a good job to finish 130.

Nathaniel Holmes Brown (39 off 35 balls) and Tom Trewin (34) were the only two batsmen to pass 20.

Daniel Mason (3-36) led the way with the ball for Upper Loddon.

Upper Loddon was on track for victory at 2-87 after 37 overs, but Ash Bayliss' dismissal for 35 turned the game.

Upper Loddon lost 7-31, leaving last pair Luke Cassells and Jayden Leach to score 13 runs for victory.

With one over to go Upper Loddon needed four runs to win. After scoring singles off the first two balls of the final over, Upper Loddon's chase fell agonisngly short when Cassells was adjudged lbw off the third delivery.

Cassell's wicket was the fourth of the day for Wimmera-Mallee's Jake Leith (4-19).

Maryborough's Lachlan Morganti posted the highest individual score of the day.

Morganti smashed 84 not out off just 62 balls as Maryborough (4-230) outclassed Grassmere Colts (7-137).

Mitchell Bench (50) was also in good touch for Maryborough, Liam Radlof (45 not out off 37 balls) added an unbeaten stand of 123 for the fifth wicket with Morganti.

The backbone of Grassmere's innings was a stubborn 79 not out off 143 balls by opener Justin Coates.

Division one: Castlemaine v Goulburn Murray at Bell Oval, Gisborne v Wangaratta at Canterbury Park, Murray Valley v Emu Valley at Golden Square.

Division two: Red Cliffs v Northern Districts at Strathfieldsaye, Portland v Colac at White Hills, Grassmere v Grampians at North Bendigo.

Division three: Grassmere v Wimmera-Mallee at Weeroona Oval, Upper Loddon v Northern United at Huntly. Maryborough bye.

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