mmg.com.au

Cricket Shepparton’s bid to dig itself out of the Melbourne Country Week abyss got off to a rocky start yesterday.

Playing in division four, Shepparton dropped its first game to returning association Warragul District at Melton.

Shepparton won the toss and elected to bat, but, despite a promising start, faltered and eventually posted 9-197, which Warragul passed in the second last over, with three wickets in hand.

Coach James Stokes was disappointed with the result, but praised the effort shown by the group.

‘‘We set ourselves (a target of) 220 and finished at 197, which we thought was defendable, but we just didn’t get it right,’’ Stokes said.

‘‘The boys fought it out right to the end and made them work to the 49th over before they passed us.

‘‘From the 25th over to the 35th they looked like they were going to do it easy and then we pegged them back and they started to get a bit nervy and it looked like it was swerving back into our favour, but we just couldn’t get the wickets.’’

Opener Brendan Scott top-scored with 39 ahead of Brayden Tracey with 35 and Jahlan Lau and Paul Marshall with 31 each, but crucially none were able to convert their start into a big score.

‘‘The blokes know we got four 30s and no one went on and they had their mainstay and he was able to control that 25 to 35 over mark,’’ Stokes said.

‘‘We lost Brendan Scott and Jahlan Lau in that time and had to rebuild, when you should be increasing.

‘‘While it’s disappointing, it’s something to build on and we’ve got to make sure we do the job (today) and we stay alive.’’

Shepparton skipper Dwain Vidler was the best of the bowlers with 3-41, while Paul Parsons and Josh Thurston produced tight bowling in the middle stages to get the side back into the game.

In provincial division, Murray Valley Cricket Association was humbled by competition powerhouse Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association.

Skipper Shaun Downie made 76 as Murray Valley made 242, but Mornington Peninsula passed the total with two wickets and three balls to spare.

Benalla also suffered an opening day defeat in division two, falling to Bairnsdale.

Batting first, only three batsmen — Andrew Startin (39), Andrew Squires (42) and Kieran Sheehan (31) — reached double figures as Benalla was all out for 153.

In reply, Bairnsdale posted 7-229, with Jacob Gleeson grabbing 3-39.

In division three, Goulburn Murray Cricket made a flying start, with a 114-run win against Colac District Cricket Association.

Kyabram Fire Brigade batsman Daniel Kent top-scored with 94 in his side’s 6-257.