Norths and Wanderers score upset victories

LAST season’s battlers have sent out the strongest possible message in the opening round of the Townsville Cricket A grade season.

Norths scored an outright win over reigning premiers Suburban Parks, chasing down the Redbacks first innings’ 127run total, and then bowling Subs for 120 in the second, with Matthew Toumazou ( 3/ 30) and Zac Myles ( 3/ 13) impressing.

That handed Norths a crack at full competition points and they got them comfortably, with Adam Zabala ( 25 no) and Josh de Munari ( 30 no) steering Norths home despite the early losses of Myles ( 6) and Coen Harker ( 0).

Wanderers won first innings against 2015- 16 premiers Saints with a superb all- round bowling performance that dismissed Saints for 123 runs, well short of Wanderers’ opening 181- run target.

Matthew Johnston ( 3/ 43) and Damien Meek ( 3/ 22) collected the major haul of wickets, and Dylan Debenham 2/ 10) and Chris Crawley ( 2/ 1) also played starring roles.

Crawley had a short but immediate impact, with his wickets coming from a seven- ball spell featuring a maiden.

Saints’ lower order hitters Chris Thiele ( 18), Darren Sullivan ( 12), Cody Thorn ( 15) and Farrukh Iqbal ( 14) all attempted to stem the onslaught, but to no avail,

Wanders then batted on yesterday afternoon and reached 9/ 157, Bradley Meek topscoring with 41 runs, and Thiele, Cody Thorn and Matthew Holm collected two wickets each for Saints.

Wanderers will attempt to keep their roll going when they take on Subs this weekend, and Norths will prepare for their clash against Brothers. Scores for the Wests/ Brothers game were unavailable.