THE last-minute withdrawal of recruit Matt Thewlis has not stopped Wangaratta Magpies from recording a crucial first-up one-day win in the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Bruck all-rounder, who has returned to the WDCA after a stint in Melbourne, was put through a fitness test only moments before Saturday’s clash against City Colts at Bill O’Callaghan Oval.
Thewlis injured his back at training on Thursday and was given every chance to prove his fitness before pulling out and being replaced by young batsman Nick Henderson.
Thewlis is expected to be available for selection for the round 2 blockbuster against Corowa at Galen College in Wangaratta this weekend.
The late line-up change proved little distraction for the Magpies, who won their opening game for the first time in two seasons.
“It’s always good to get off to a good start,” captain-coach Paul Smithwick said yesterday.
“We were expecting it to be a hard-fought match. We were hoping to win and were happy that we did.”
The Magpies’ win was the only major upset of the opening round, with Corowa, Bruck, Beechworth and Rovers United all tasting victory.
Colts veteran Justin Solimo said his side, which was without a host of unavailable players, was happy with its total of 8-151 after winning the toss and electing to bat.
But it did not take long for young Magpies all-rounder Zac Guilfoyle to capture the first of his two wickets, with Nathan Younger caught off his bowling by Neil Membrey for three.
Colts recruit Daniel Vihm then set about establishing a 59-run second-wicket partnership with Solimo, before the former skipper was bowled by Hamish Cox for 18 after looking set for a big score.
Vihm was soon caught for 33 and after his dismissal the Colts could not find anyone to hold up an end.
Skipper Kent Braden (19) and Joe Doyle (15) both got starts without inflicting any real damage as Guilfoyle (2-15), Membrey (1-16) and Smithwick (1-21) held their nerve with the ball.
The Colts’ cause was not helped by three run-outs, the result of some diligent preseason training by the Magpies, according to their skipper.
“We were lucky in a way. Our fielding is a big thing I like to have. We have worked a lot on fielding at training,” Smithwick said.
The run chase could barely have started better for the Magpies, with WDCA star Barry Grant setting the tone from the outset.
The veteran batsman hit 27 before being bowled by Braden.
Luke Sims (11), wicketkeeper Ben Henwood (five) and Tom Williams (eight) all fell cheaply before Smithwick took control out in the middle.
The former Rovers United star fell just three runs shy of a half-century after being out caught and bowled by Peter Thrum.
The Magpies finished 9-154 with Vihm the Colts’ leading wicket-taker with 3-26 while Younger took 2-21 off his eight overs.
“We were confident of getting the runs,” Smithwick said.
“Barry Grant took to the bowling a bit. They tied us down after Baz went out. If we didn’t get the good start we would have been stuffed.”
At Whorouly Memorial Reserve, Matt Hunt smashed a century to lead Beechworth to victory against Whorouly.
Hunt scored 107 as the Wanderers won by 28 runs.
At Ball Park, Englishman Jon Shaw hit 40 to lead Corowa to a six-wicket win against Greta.
In other results, premier Bruck got its title defence off to a strong start with victory against Myrtleford at Bruck Oval, while Rovers defeated Rutherglen United at Barkly Park.
