DON’T think, just do.
Kiewa skipper Ash Sutherland thinks that should be his team’s motto for the rest of the season.
It certainly worked for it on Saturday as it upset Mount Beauty at home by 24 runs.
The team turned up to play less than 20 minutes before the start time.
A radio interview about the club’s 125th anniversary next weekend held the players up.
It was blessing in disguise as it turned out.
“We literally turned up, went and did the toss, won and then went out and batted without looking too much at the pitch,” Sutherland said.
The hasty start didn’t worry veteran Kiewa veteran opener Robert Barber.
He scored his 72 in what was his highest career score and first half- century in at least five years.
His eventual run out was just a hiccup for the visitors who cruised to 7-184.
Jason Bartel chipped in with 30 while Sutherland, keeper Tim Lancaster, Connor Davis and Josh Bartel, who is back in Australia on a break from his Gridiron punting career in Canada, all made handy contribution.
Sutherland said the score was as good as he could have hoped for.
“I was hoping for 150 or 160 so to get 184 was great,” he said.
“Barber was fantastic getting us away to a good start and Jase Bartel was sensational with his 30.
“He came in when we needed a bit of stability and he just pushed the ones and twos really hard.”
In reply Mount Beauty never looked comfortable.
Save for Mark Betheras (57), no batsman was able to push on.
Ashan Ranaweera and William Betheras both made 15 and no other player reached double figures, the host struggling to 9-160 from its 40 overs.
In his first game for the season Jason Bartel picked up four wickets while youngster Ryan de Vries bowled tight at the death.
Sutherland said the win was exactly what his side needed to kick start the second half of its season.
Elsewhere New City had little trouble chasing the 98 runs set by Howlong at Urana Road Oval and Barnawartha-Chiltern defeated Bethanga by 74 runs at home.
Yackandandah bowled Eskdale out for 72 to secure a 49-run home win and Dederang was too good for Wodonga Raiders, getting the 137-run target with three overs remaining and six wickets in hand.