New City opened its account with a stunning upset of T20 premiers Lavington on Saturday.
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The Phoenix snared the Panthers' leading run-scorer last season in Sam O'Connor with the first ball of the match and restricted the visitors to 9-83.
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"Winning against a premiership side is always a great achievement," delighted New City coach Akki Murthy said.
"They're a top club and had a full strength batting lineup, so to knock them out for 83 is a real achievement.
"When Sam Grant took that first wicket, things started to happen and we bowled and fielded our hearts out."
At one stage, that final total looked beyond the visitors as they slumped to 7-28.
However, a 33-run ninth wicket partnership between captain Sam Harris (22) and Matt Rhook (25 not out) at least gave the team's bowlers some chance.
Opening bowlers Bhupinder Singh (3-10) and Sam Grant (2-9) ripped through Lavington, with the latter snaring O'Connor's scalp.
New City made quick work of the target from only 15.3 overs.
Zimbabwe international Tarisai Musakanda top-scored with 25 from 24 balls, while opener Rajeev Tyagi posted 21.
"I played with Rajeev at Yackandandah and he's always been a consistent scorer," Murthy said.
"He's a hard hitting batsman and likes to dominate."
New City is as close as you can get to a new club after 13 players left.
There's 22 newcomers, plus a revamped committee, along with the new coach and young captain Zac Barrenechea.
"We are starting from scratch, the club had a vision and when I came on board we all had the same vision," Murthy said of New City's rebuild.
"I think in previous years New City lacked that experience in the A grade side.
"I'm the oldest at 38, our import (Musakanda) is 24, the captain's 21, Sam Grant's in his 20s and we've got some others in their late 20s, early 30s, so it's a good mix of ages."
After stunning the league by playing finals two years ago, the Phoenix battled last season, finishing second last at 50-over level with four wins and last in the T20s with just the one victory.
"We know we could surprise a few of the teams this season and the surprise came earlier than expected," Murthy said.
New City will start its 50-over campaign away to premiers North Albury.