The Tigers needed a leg bye off the last ball of their run chase to post a one-wicket victory against Dennington in a Twenty20 thriller at Harris Street Reserve.

The triumph came seven days after they beat Nestles by five wickets with six balls to spare and means they are the only unbeaten side after two rounds.

Andy Rishton (44) and Simon Fleming (33) were the heroes with the bat. The pair put on 47 for the fifth wicket to help Merrivale recover from 4-70.

Sean Fary (nine not out) also made valuable runs at the death as the Tigers finished their 20 overs at 9-151. Chamesh Fernando took 3-27 for Dennington.

Earlier, Dennington posted 7-150 thanks to a hard-hitting 66 from skipper Dustin Drew and contributions from Josh Squares (22) and Fernando (19).

Merrivale skipper Michael Walsh said he was pleased to start off the season unbeaten. Walsh played up the importance of the Tigers’ batting depth.

“It got pretty tight there towards the end. We were keeping up with the run rate, we were thereabouts, that was good,” he said. “But we can bat the whole way down. We’re pretty confident in our batting line-up.

“To make 151 off 20 overs is a pretty good effort. Jarrod (Petherick) was batting at 11 but he’s a better bat than 11.”

Walsh said he was pleased Rishton, an Englishman who replaces Ziggy Arshad as the Tigers’ import, was able to find early-season form.

“He batted real well. He had to play a few shots to keep the run rate up. But when he’s going he looks real good,” he said. “The week before (when he made a duck) he got a real good nut. If you get a good nut, you only get one chance in cricket.”

Merrivale can extend its winning streak to three when it meets Nirranda at Victoria Park this weekend, although Walsh predicted another close match.

“Nirranda won’t be an easy beat. The Twenty20 format suits them … They need a win to stay in touch and we need a win to stay ahead,” he said.

In the other Hopkins conference match, Nestles had former captain Cam Williams to thank for their 10-run defeat of Nirranda at Wenborn Oval.

Williams top scored with 66 in Nestles’ 4-163 batting first, ably supported by 28 not out from Lachlan O’Neill.

The Knights were admirable in their run chase, finishing with 7-153. Coach Jason Mungean made 55 and Ranil Rasanga reached 45.

Factory captain Brett Eldridge took 3-29, including the wicket of Rasanga after the Sri Lankan had blasted six fours and a six.

afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au