Jac Smith-Williams made a spectacular start to the season, blasting 113 from just 58 balls to power Tallarook to a 130-run victory over Seymour in Saturday’s grand final rematch at Chittick Park.
The opener struck 11 fours and six sixes as Tallarook piled on 4-215 from its 20 overs, before a disciplined bowling performance restricted Seymour to 4-85.
Seymour won the toss and elected to bowl, making early breakthroughs through Braidon Horkings and Cam Bassett. Hamish Melville departed for 12 and Lachlan Watts for two, leaving Tallarook at 2-30.
Smith Williams and co-captain Leigh Irving then took charge, putting on a match-defining 166-run partnership for the third wicket.
Smith Williams dominated the scoring with a powerful display of boundary hitting, while Irving contributed 54 from 38 balls, including four fours and three sixes.
Hugh Smith dismissed both late in the innings, finishing with an impressive 2-18 from three overs. Andrew Dundon provided a final flourish with an unbeaten 16 from eight deliveries, while Brodey Pointon returned 0-26 from four overs for Seymour.
Luke Woolan top-scored with 22 and Harvey Smith added 21 in the chase for Seymour, while Jason Brown remained unbeaten on 15 and Brodie Foster finished 14 not out.
Ben Trezise led Tallarook’s wicket-taking with 2-18 from four overs, with Tarkyn Dundon claiming 1-18 and Irving completing a strong all-round outing with 1-2 from his only over.
Watts conceded just five runs from three overs, while Samuel Manchester returned 0-13 from four, helping Tallarook keep a firm grip on the contest and secure an emphatic opening-round win.
Pyalong vs Alexandra
Alexandra captain Vinu Hewage starred with bat and ball to lead his side to a 32-run win over Pyalong at Pyalong Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Hewage struck an unbeaten 70, including eight fours and a six, before taking 2-12 from four overs as Alexandra defended its total of 2-134.
Alex Ryan was the pick of Pyalong’s bowlers with 1-16 from four overs, while Tyler Caddie claimed 1-32. Captain Matthew Pratt conceded 21 runs from his four overs.
Pyalong’s chase began with a 51-run opening stand between James Hadjiloukas and Dermott Clancy, giving the home side a platform before Alexandra broke through.
Clancy fell for 17, Jamie Pryor followed for one and Hadjiloukas departed for a team-high 29, leaving Pyalong at 3-62.
Zane Ryan finished unbeaten on 23 and Mitchell Ryan contributed 18, but Alexandra kept the scoring in check to restrict Pyalong to 6-102 from its 20 overs.
Hewage’s miserly spell capped an outstanding individual performance, while Ashton provided strong support with 1-13 from four overs, including a maiden.
Puckapunyal vs Yea Tigers
Cameron Armstrong starred with bat and ball as Yea Tigers opened their season with a 38-run victory over Puckapunyal on Saturday.
Armstrong top-scored with 42 before claiming three late wickets to help dismiss the home side for 96 in reply to Yea’s 6-134.
Thomas White contributed 31 and Ben Darcy made 23, while Armstrong’s innings, featuring four boundaries, helped lift Yea to a competitive total. Beau Hawkins added 12 and Mitchell Enright chipped in with 13.
Benjamin Hughes delivered an outstanding spell for Puckapunyal, taking 2-6 from four overs to keep the Tigers in check. Matthew Jong claimed 2-37 and Peter Brennan took 1-16.
Yea shared the wickets around in Puckapunyal’s reply, with Darcy removing both openers and Marc Steiner claiming 3-9 from three overs.
Jong offered the strongest resistance, striking three fours and a six in his 34, while Hughes was the only other Puckapunyal batter to reach double figures with 12.
Armstrong capped his all-round performance by dismissing Jong, Brennan and Brett Williams, finishing with figures of 3-2 as Puckapunyal was bowled out in 19.5 overs.
