Dederang co-captain Andrew Creamer wasted no time blowing out the cobwebs with a dominant display at the top of the order against Eskdale in the opening round at Dederang on Saturday.
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Creamer blasted 136, with 16 fours and three sixes, to set up a convincing 106-run win for the Demons.
Incredibly, his individual knock outscored every other team’s total except Eskdale across the weekend.
Creamer was the competition’s leading run-scorer last season with 480 at an average of 34.29 and is well on the way to repeating that feat after a sublime start to the campaign.
“I just went for it I suppose,” Creamer said.
“We spent a bit of time on the wicket and got it laser leveled last year and it always plays better the second year after we do that.
“It was flat and hard and the outfield was pretty quick.”
Andrew Mann provided strong support with 62 as Dederang reached 6-265 from its 45 overs.
Liam Tobin grabbed 3-45 for Eskdale.
In reply, the visitors simply had too much to do and were bowled out for 159 in the 39th over.
Creamer snared the big wicket of Tobin on 54 and finished with 2-32, while Lachlan Lewin (3-38) and Cameron Gregg (2-16) also bowled well.
Barnawartha-Chiltern almost made a perfect return to the competition, falling to last season’s grand finalists Yackandandah by nine runs at Barnawartha.
The Roos batted first and were bowled out for 123, with Brett Gray making 22.
Chris Anderson’s figures of 4-14 from nine overs kept the Miners in the hunt.
However, Barnawartha-Chiltern were unable to stem the flow of wickets themselves as they were bowled out for 114 in the 43rd over.
Yackandandah skipper Andrew Lockett was the chief destroyer with 4-23.
Kiewa also got its season off to a winning start at home, passing Howlong’s total with a wicket in hand.
The Spiders reached 6-120 from their 45 overs, led by 38 from Bernard Ruaro.
Jacob Barber finished with 3-19 from his nine overs for the Hawks and also played a crucial role with the bat in the victory.
His unbeaten knock of 34 saw Kiewa eventually finish all out for 125, but it wasn’t without its fair share of drama.
Ash Sutherland and Jacob Ozolins fell in quick succession to leave the Hawks reeling at 8-105 and coach Ben Curphey added eight before he was dismissed to make it 9-118.
But Barber and number 11 Will Damm held firm to see their side over the line in thrilling fashion.
Reigning premiers Corowa, as well as Mount Beauty, Baranduda and Bethanga all start their campaigns next weekend.
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