The Waves faced Barwon Rockets at Geelong’s Kardinia Park for the Twenty20 encounter. Barwon won the toss and stepped up to the crease.

But the Waves had no intentions of letting the opposition settle in.

Boyd took the scalp of Rockets captain Luke Inglis, thanks to the reliable hands of Ben Fleming.

It was the first ball of the day.

“It was very unexpected,” Waves team manager Gordon McLeod said.

“But it got us off to a very good start and put them (Barwon) on the back foot.”

Mount Gambier medium-quick Ryan Hosking took over from Boyd and collected a wicket in his first spell and two in his second to finish with impressive figures of 3-15.

Mortlake medium-fast Tyler Fowler also delivered with 2-9.

The Rockets were grounded at 7-100 after 20 overs.

“We put them under a lot of pressure and they never really recovered,” McLeod said. “Our bowling and fielding was really good.

“We never looked back.”

Waves opener Patrick Page, of Mount Gambier, sprinted to an unbeaten 73, while Boyd and Allansford’s Hugh McCluggage managed 13 and 16 respectively.

Dennington’s Nick King contributed 10 not out, nudging Western Waves to 3-123 after the 20 overs.

“It always helps to have a win on the first day,” McLeod said. “It gives the boys a bit of enthusiasm for the rest of the week.”

The competition moves into 40-over matches today.

Western Waves confronts South East Bayside Breakers in St Kilda.

Meanwhile, the Waves did not have the same success against Barwon Rockets on the opening day of the under 16 state championships yesterday.

The Rockets won the toss at Geelong Cricket Ground and elected to bat, racing to 1-138 in the Twenty20 match.

Ben Threlfall took the single wicket.

However, the Waves ran out of time with the willow, reaching 5-134 after the 20 overs.

Western Waves meet South East Bayside Breakers at Junction Oval today.