AN excellent outright win has given Upper Beaconsfield a strong start to its 2006/07 season.
Playing Emerald the team managed 8/205 on day one, then crushed a hapless Bomber side in two quick bowling sessions, accruing outright points.
Led by newcomer Glen Kilburn and Aaron Gray, Upper Beaconsfield cut a massive swathe through the top order then were supported by the rest of the attack.
New team member Glen Kilburn made an immediate impact as soon as he bowled, claiming a scalp and then powering on to record a miserly 3/7.
He was supported by Aaron Gray, whose zip proved too much for some batters and the casual quick managed 2/29 in his spell.
Luke Pitcher also was difficult to handle, picking up 2/27 while captain Scott Pitcher chipped in to mop up with 1/7.
The black and red were destroyed for just 65 runs in the first innings and fared little better in the second, accumulating just 93 well short of forcing the Maroons to bat again.
This time leftarmer Dan Brennan demonstrated the much better line, he discovered in the preseason, to record his bestever bowling figures of 4/13.
Spinner Scott Pitcher again showed good flight and was happy with his 2/33, while Kilburn recorded 1/15 and Kim Hassall claimed a victim for 27 runs.
Highlight of the afternoon was a spectacular onehanded ‘screamer’ plucked by Aaron Gray.
This has provided a great start but he pressure will be on to maintain the forward momentum.
C GRADE
The highly fancied Lang Lang was forced to struggle, chasing a mediocre tally of 129.
The Swamp Tigers were rocked back on their heels at one stage, as the middle order slumped in the face of tight bowling from veteran Rob Hansen and coskipper Shawn Hassall.
An early breakthrough occurred when newcomer Luke Tressider proved to be a handy first changer, but the batters seemed to be swooning a little attempting to combat the spin and swing combination of the two H’s Hansen and Hassall.
At 5/65, still with 65 to make, the game was in the balance.
A skied attempted drive from a Hansen awaydrifter could have had the Maroons right amongst the tail, but it spilled and soon after the hardhitting youngster for Lang Lang was dropped a second time.
Unfortunately so too was the chance at victory.
Ultimately the Swamp Tigers outplayed their opponents and the efforts of their hardhitting middleorder batter won the day, but it could have easily been a different result.
Rob Hansen took 3/36, while John Kett showed all his guile to record 3/23 and could have easily picked up a hattrick as a very confident lbw shout was turned down.
Upper Beaconsfield finished on 1/40 in its second dig, with Luke Williams and Matt Scanlon receiving valuable time in the middle.
