By Casey O'Connor
After a first round washout the 2019/20 Stanthorpe Cricket season finally got under way last weekend. Valleys took on South’s in a Friday night game at the CF White Oval. Valleys then travelled to Shirley Park taking on Tenterfield on their home patch. Back at headquarters RSL went head to head with Wanderers.
The defending premiers, Valleys have been bolstered by the return of Charlie Moncada and Alastair Middleton.
On Friday night Valleys won the toss and elected ash South’s to bat first. It was a good move as the strong Valleys bowling attack restricted South’s to just 112 runs.
South’s openers, Harry Williams and Sachepal Singh made a reasonable start before Williams was dismissed by Martin with the score at 1/33. Singh became Moncada’s first victim out for 12. Liam Lanza was the next to fall run out by Dave Marino. When captain Ben Staley was caught by Moncada off the bowling of Cameron Crestani the writing was on the wall for South’s.
Tom Bonner (35) top scored as wickets tumbled around him. South’s eventually all out in just the 28th over.
Steve Martin, Charlie Moncada and Dave Marino each took two wickets and in a good fielding display catches were held and there were two run outs.
Valleys never looked under pressure as they reeled in the required runs in the 24th over for the loss of five wickets.
Moncada made a classy debut taking two wickets and two catches. Middleton looked in good touch at the wicket opening the batting and top scoring with 27. Cameron Crestani was the next best of the Valley’s batsmen scoring 26 from 33 deliveries.
Valleys followed up that win by handing Tenterfield a hiding on their home turf. Cameron Crestani lit up Shirley Park with an awesome batting display. Crestani came in at first drop with the score at 1/28 and went about destroying the bowling attack. When he was finally dismissed in the 32nd over the score was 4/220. Crestani scoring 141 runs off just 95 balls. Valleys went on to a total of 258.
In reply Tenterfield simply had no answers to the Valleys attack. Steve Martin dismantled the batting line up taking five wickets from eight overs. Anthony Marino took three wickets and Cameron Crestani backed up a good day taking two wickets. Tenterfield were dismissed for just 62 in the 16th over. It was an innings Tenterfield will not care to remember with a top score of 25 from opener Nick Savins. Extras adding the next best score of 10 and the innings included six ducks. Ouch. But an impressive start to the season for Valleys.
