Mount Beauty United Cricket Club have started the season with a victory in the opening round of Cricket Albury Wodonga’s District first grade competition last Saturday.

The Power’s pre-match preparation was an unusual one, which went from a 90 minute away trip to a home game on a synthetic pitch courtesy of unplayable conditions at Eskdale, but it mattered little once the first ball was delivered, which ended in a memorable 28-run win in a high scoring contest at Les Peart Oval.

In promising signs for the club, Tom McCluskey made his first-grade debut, while the returning Mark Flay (Kiewa) and Will Betheras (injury) made the home side stronger in their season opener.

Mount Beauty won the toss and predictably batted first in batting-friendly conditions and certainly made the most of the coin landing in their favour.

After a watchful first 10 balls, Gregor McLennan went berserk and blasted 71 runs off only 46 balls, hitting the Eskdale opening seamers to all parts of the outfield with 11 fours and two maximums.

Not to be outdone, Betheras (76 off 98) was proactive in a second-wicket partnership with McLennan after the loss of Nick Iaria (11), combining for an 87-run stand, before pairing with Mount Beauty’s middle order to keep the total ticking over at a fast rate.

Several others added double-figure contributions to lift the Power’s score to a very competitive 7/235 from their allotted 40 overs.

Mount Beauty’s opening bowlers Ethan Brown (2/39) and Craig Henderson (4/32) made early breakthroughs and made the run chase a tough one for Eskdale’s top order, which included a sharp return catch from the evergreen Henderson to dismiss the dangerous opposition skipper Zac Barranchea cheaply.

While Eskdale recovered their innings and gave themselves a chance of victory with some handy middle-order partnerships as they kept close enough to the required rate, Henderson’s second spell was even more fruitful than his first, with three quick wickets turning the game in the space of a few overs.

Emerson Lemkau (2/38) captured the 10th wicket to dismiss a gallant Eskdale for 207.

Returning captain McLennan was pleased with the result despite the unique events of the morning.

“Eskdale’s sprinklers came on overnight on Friday and ruined their pitch, and we didn’t have a match scheduled on the MBCG, so our pitch was unprepared also,” McLennan said.

“Les Peart Oval was available and played on the hard wicket to get a game in, and there was a bit of mucking around to get ready, but we started on time.

“We were 2/119 at drinks and that gave us a platform to go after a good score with wickets in hand.

“Will really set up the game for us – he held the innings together and scored freely, but by keeping his wicket intact and rotating the strike, he allowed the likes of Mark, Ethan and Emmo to attack the bowling at the other end.

“I really thought all of our bowlers played their role and having young blokes like Lincoln (Wilson) and Mark tearing around in the field saved a number of runs and made it difficult for Eskdale to make inroads.”

Round two action sees Mount Beauty play their first official home game of the season against Kiewa Valley neighbours Dederang, with the first ball from 1:00pm.