East Ballarat got its Ballarat Cricket Association season off to a strong start in a low-scoring affair against Napoleons-Sebastopol.
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Hawks captain Josh Brown won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that proved a wise one as the one-day clash panned out.
Naps-Sebas lost two wickets before they reached double figures and a 47-run third-wicket partnership between Liam Rigby and Jacob Eyers was the only shining light on an otherwise disappointing scorecard for the home side.
Wickets fell consistently as Napoleons-Sebastopol was bundled out for just 93.
While the score was a poor one, by Brown’s own admission, East Ballarat has had trouble tracking down low totals in the past – but not on this occasion.
Brown said the mindset was a clear and simple one – take it 10 runs at a time.
"The team likes to chase, but just with the pitch and not knowing, you'd rather see what's it's doing before going out and batting,” Brown said.
"The main thing for us was, (given) in the past few years we've struggled to chase small totals, to get the boys to dig in.
"Our aim this year is just partnerships of 10, then go to the next 10, that's our main aim at the moment - 10 runs at a time.”
Harry Ganley fell early, before recruit Nick Waldie (33 runs) and Mitchell Walsh (19 runs) put on 47 runs and provided a great foundation for the East Ballarat middle-order.
A couple of wickets fell late, but the Hawks were never threatened and a six-wicket victory over a 2016-17 finalist was an great start to the season.
Brown was rapt with the solid performance.
"To get the win in the first round is always what you're looking for, it sets you up for the next couple of weeks.”
The Hawks bowling unit produced an even performance with five wicket-takers, three taking two wickets each to go along with two run outs.
Waldie top-scored with the bat while Eyers led Naps-Sebas with 24 runs.