A partnership of 186 between Brad Mitchell and Lorenzo Ingram took Plenty Valley from the edge of disaster to a position of strength on Saturday’s opening day of Sub-District cricket.
Mitchell joined Ingram with the Bats at 4-54 against Yarraville.
But Mitchell’s 99 and Ingram’s 94 carried Plenty Valley to a comfortable 8-275 from the 80 overs and ensured Yarraville will have a difficult target on day two of the match this Saturday.
Matthew Love, who ended the partnership when he had Ingram caught, was the best of the Yarraville bowlers with 4-71.
Roxburgh Park Broadmeadows will need its own batting heroics to take any points from the opening-round clash against Brunswick.
Despite bolstering its batting ranks in the off-season, it was a case of ‘same old story’ for the Falcons.
Brunswick won the toss and batted and was left to rue that decision as the innings slumped to 7-62.
But four of the five lower batsmen for Brunswick reached double figures which carried the total to 108.
Bryce Preston was the best of the bowlers with four wickets.
But, like Brunswick, the Falcons’ top order also failed to fire. The top five all failed to hit double figures as the Falcons fell to 5-35.
Kurtley Brandt, who made 15 not out and captain Mitch Johnstone, who reached 10, steadied the ship to take the Falcons to 6-65 by stumps.
Round one of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association was called off because not enough grounds were ready.
