REIGNING South West cricketer of the year winner Shane Slater notched a century on Saturday to start his title defence in imposing fashion.
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The Mortlake veteran teamed with Tyler Schafer to steer the Cats to a 221-run win against Simpson.
Slater (115) and Schafer (86) put on a 143-run second wicket stand at D. C. Farran Oval.
Cats skipper Todd Lamont was unbeaten on 71 as Mortlake finished on 5-338.
Todd Robertson took 4-22 and Kyle McDonald 3-14 as Simpson was skittled for 117 in reply. Lamont said it was pleasing the Cats built on their Twenty20 form — they won that title last weekend — in the opening one-day round of the summer.
“We lost Josh Barr early and Tyler took over the ascendancy and scored pretty quickly and Shane supported him well,” he said.
“Once Tyler went out Shane went on with it.
“He likes playing Simpson. He made a hundred against them last year and took a five-for.
“He cashes in against them.”
Lamont said the Cats’ batting depth was a strength again this season as they attempt to make it four consecutive South West Cricket flags.
“The top order is getting good starts and that’s the key to getting good scores,” he said. “Hopefully it can continue.”
Lamont was pleased with the Cats’ bowling and their efforts in the field.
“It was a pretty good all-round performance,” he said.
“We only had one lull when we were fielding and Nick Harding was finding the boundary.”
Noorat notched a 19-run win against 2013-14 runner-up Pomborneit.
Shane Hutchins was the mainstay in the Noorat innings, with his 60 helping it post 125.
Steven Fisher (3-6) and Jason Blackney (5-22) did the damage with the ball for the Bulls.
Hutchins backed up his batting performance with the ball, taking 4-26 as Pomborneit was dismissed for 106.
Bulls captain Dave Murphy top scored with 27.
Essendon footballers Jackson and Zach Merrett made cameo appearances for Bookaar in its 10-wicket win against Heytesbury Rebels.
The Rebels posted a handy 9-164, with Dominic Cunningham the leading wicket-taker with 3-34.
Jackson Merrett took 1-12 off a 10-over spell which included four maidens.
An emphatic opening partnership between Simon Baker and Lachlan Green steered Bookaar home.
Baker made 78 and Green 86 as they passed the Rebels’ total with 10 wickets in hand.
Bookaar batted on, with Zach Merrett (37) and Eddie Lucas (40) helping get the total to 7-291 at stumps.
Terang posted a five-wicket win against Cobden.
Liam Geary tore through Cobden’s attack, taking 5-10 in a devastating spell.
Terang was struggling at 4-25 in reply before steadying to make 120.
Tim Keane top scored for Terang with 34 and Brayden Crow claimed 4-17 for Cobden.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au