The Mounties were left clearly beaten in the first round of regional knockout matches in the Victorian Statewide Twenty20 Cup – they put on 5-136, a tally East Belmont passed two wickets down with five overs to spare.

Lineker, a former Frankston premier cricket captain and county cricketer, was unbeaten on 86 runs (13 fours) on the East Belmont ground.

Mountie Paull Jeffrey said the left-hand opener was a class above the rest of the competition.

East Belmont bowled tight early, creating 47 dot balls and restricting the Mounties’ batting efforts.

  Kiwi Shaun Coffey chalked up 43 runs (four fours) in the top order as the Mounties’ highest scorer – Coffey was bowled by Lineker.

Coffey helped to anchor the innings in a 52-run second-wicket partnership with Les Sandwith (17 runs).

Jarrod Burns was also solid with the bat to reach 27 runs.

East Belmont, traditionally strong in Twenty20 matches, will progress to the regional round of eight with its next assignment – with the Mallee or Wimmera region – in Warracknabeal next week.

Mt Clear was representing the Central Highlands in the Statewide Cup as the reigning regional premier.