DEFENDING premier Mortlake had a convincing win against Boorcan on Saturday, but it won’t count for premiership points.
The match was the only South West Cricket (SWC) division one game played, with the three remaining round one contests washed out.
SWC secretary Grant Myers said at least two games had to start for results to count.
“It was probably a glorified practice match because under league rules, 50 per cent or more have to commence for points to count,” he said.
The Bookaar versus Pomborneit, Terang versus Camperdown and Noorat versus Heytesbury Rebels games were all called off.
“We were just happy to play and blow the cobwebs out,” Mortlake captain-coach Todd Lamont said.
Cat Clinton Baker started the season with a strong all-round performance.
The opening bowler claimed 4-6 off a 10-over spell, which included six maidens.
He then led the way for the Cats with the bat, top scoring with 74.
Boorcan won the toss and elected to bat on a slow D.C. Farran Oval, posting 8-92.
Patrick Heffernan was the best of the Boorcan batsmen, with an unbeaten knock of 35.
Mortlake made 5-191 in reply to win by eight wickets.
Lamont scored 47 and Neil Kelly 35 to complement Baker.
“It was a little wet to start with and there were a couple of little showers and the ground was slow,” Lamont said.
“We were able to restrict them for 92 and we passed them in about the 25th over.
“We batted our overs out and got a bit more batting practice because it was the first game of the year.
“It was a really slow ground, so you had to hit the ball in the air to get any runs.
“It was hard going. We hit a lot of boundaries.
“We made the most of their bad balls, I guess.”
