Left-arm opening bowler Sam Grant took 1-5 off his four overs, while Saif Zaib made 14 runs and then claimed 3-22 bowling left-arm orthodox spin in the 34-run win over Albury.

“Saif played cricket with (former Albury player) Tom Sole at  Northamptonshire, and Tom said not to give him too much width,” Popko said.

“He did look strong through the point region and if it was hanging out there, he did go at the ball.

“With the ball, Saif bowled little skidding spinners, while Sam Grant looked like he had a nice bit of pace about him.

“They’ve recruited pretty well, they’re not going to be too bad a side.”

New City’s Callum Langlands batted superbly in making 40 at number eight, while hard-hitting recruit Darren Petersen scored 32.

“We dropped ‘Peabo’ (Petersen) on 15 and Langlands midway through the innings, so it probably cost us around 30 runs,” Popko said.

The Phoenix finished with 9-131, before tearing through Albury for 97, off just 18.3 overs.

Nick Morris top-scored with 27.

Meanwhile, Wodonga edged out Belvoir in the highest standard match of the opening round.

Wodonga posted 7-151 from its 20 overs, with captain Jack Craig scoring 48.

“He got a chance on nought, but really took his opportunity after that,” team-mate Leo McGhee said.

“He punished them by hitting long and straight.”

Belvoir captain Matt Jaensch finished with 2-30.

The home team replied with 7-146.

John Spencer made 42 off 34 balls, with two sixes and two boundaries, while Cameron McCormack chipped in with 33 from 23 balls.

Elsewhere in the first round, star Lavington recruit Daryl Tuffey played a crucial role in the club’s 32-run win over North Albury.

Lavington made 6-123 with former Lake Albert (Wagga) opener Matt Tom making 40.

He hit three boundaries, as did ex-New Zealand international Tuffey, who batted at number three for 27.

Rob Hartnett snared 3-22.

North was restricted to 9-91.

Chris Galvin took 4-22, while Tuffey finished with 0-4 from three overs.

St Patrick’s toppled East Albury by eight runs.

Number five batsman Nick Brown tallied 41, with East recruit, leg-spinner Dom Blampied, claiming 1-18 off his four overs.

Blampied made 13 runs, but left-arm off-spinner Kane Arendarcikas strangled the Crows’ innings with 3-11.

And Tallangatta defeated Wodonga Raiders by six wickets.

Raiders finished with 8-89, with second-gamer Lowan O’Conner notching 46 .