PREMIER Cricket kicked off on the weekend with teams playing two rounds.
Claremont Nedlands picked up where they left off last season, opening its 2018-19 campaign with a comfortable four-wicket win over Melville on Saturday at Cresswell Park.
After winning the toss and sending the Storm in to bat, the Tigers brewed up a storm of their own, with Daniel Turkich, Christopher Simpson and Bradley Hope combining to take the first four wickets of the match within 42 runs.
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READ NOWHowever, Drew Porter came to the crease to offer immediate resistance for Melville, notching back to back 30-plus run partnerships with Brad Turner and Ryan Duffield to add some much-needed runs on the board.
At 6-112, Porter continued to weather attacks from the Tigers’ bowlers, but unfortunately, a consistent partner could not be found, as Turkich and Hope cleaned up the tail to claim four and three wickets each.
With the target set at 172 to win, the Tigers found themselves in a spot of bother early, losing the important wickets of Jacob Whiteaker and Nicholas Hobson at 2-24.
However, a spirited 85-run partnership from Bradly Hope and Tim David helped reel in the target, pushing the Tigers to 109 before Hope was dismissed.
At 3-109, Mark Turner was doing all he could to turn the tide back in favour of the Storm, taking the next three wickets of the match, however, the damage had been done early, with the Tigers cruising to a four wicket win with four overs to spare.
David was a standout with the bat for Claremont Nedlands, scoring a terrific 76 from 101 deliveries.
Claremont rounded out a perfect weekend beating Joondalup at Iluka Sports Complex on Sunday.
In other games, Subi Floreat lost against Rockingham Mandurah in a match that went down to the wire and beat Scarborough the following day.
University defeated Wanneroo on Saturday by eight wickets after a dominant batting display and stamped its authority on the competition on Sunday, this time defeating Midland Guildford to the tune of 72 runs at Lilac Hill.