Ballarat’s cricketers made light work of the Shepparton association in a dream start to the Melbourne Country Week campaign.
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A strong display with the ball set up Monday’s victory at Schramms Reserve in Doncaster before the batsmen made light work of a small run chase.
In the end, the Ballarat Cricket Association cruised to a six-wicket victory.
That result has given the side an ideal start to its division two title bid, which if successful, would earn it promotion back to the premier tier of Melbourne Country Week in 2020.
Ballarat was relegated from provincial division last season when it won just one game for the week.
Buninyong paceman Matt Ringin really set the tone for the BCA on Monday with a devastating early spell of bowling.
The past EJ Cleary Medal winner skittled both openers for ducks and snared the first four wickets of the innings.
This had Shepparton in deep trouble at 4-23.
Michael Archer (62) then provided some resistance through the middle order, but his teammates continued to fall around him.
In the end, Shepparton was dismissed in the 46th over for 166.
It looked an easy run chase for Ballarat and that’s how it panned out.
The side flew out of the blocks and never looked back, reeling in the target inside 27 overs.
Leigh Lorenzen opened the batting and made 54, skipper Ryan Knowles belted 36 from just 22 balls and Harry Ganley finished unbeaten on 36.
The BCA’s attention now turns to a round two clash with Leongatha and District.
The game is scheduled for Beach Oval in Brighton.
After that, the BCA is booked to take on Latrobe Valley at the Moorleigh Community Village Reserve on Wednesday.
Finals games are then set to take place on Thursday and Friday.