The Victorians, playing the Northern Territory in a two-day clash in round one of the carnival, scored 288 all out in 95 overs yesterday. 

Victoria had elected to bat first after winning the toss. 

Pyke, captain of the team in his seventh season in the squad, said he was pleased with the team’s efforts.

“The carnival is off to a good start – we’ve batted really well and been competitive all day,” Pyke said.

Standout batsmen for Victoria included Rob Hearn who scored 43, Rob Wilson on 77 and Adrian Burgeil 87.

Ballarat representatives Pyke and Dixon scored 13 and one respectively.

Although the team performed well yesterday, Pyke said today would still be a challenge.

“The conditions are batsmen friendly, so (today) will be a tough day,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get off to a good start.

“It’s difficult to assertain this early on who is the team to beat;  New South Wales is usually competitive, but it’s a different team every year. I suppose we’ll see after today.”

For Dixon, this is his first year playing in the championships. 

Next up, the Victorian team will take on Western Australia in another two-day match beginning on Sunday. 

The championships will run until January 14, with Victoria to play each of the other seven teams across seven rounds in a mix of two-day, one-day and Twenty20 matches. 

Victoria’s schedule:

Round one (January 3 and 4): Two-day match against Northern Territory

Round two (January 6 and 7): Two-day match against Western Australia

Round three (January 8 morning): Twenty20 against East Asia Pacific

Round four (January 8 afternoon): Twenty20 against Queensland

Round five (January 10 and 11): Two-day match against South Australia

Round six (January 13): One-day match against Australian Capital Territory

Round seven (January 14): One-day match against New South Wales