Matt Goonan didn't waste any time getting back into the swing of things, guiding his team to an impressive round one victory in the Ballarat Cricket Association.

The dual EJ Cleary Medal winner has only played sparingly in recent years - his last first grade game was in season 2017-18 - but hit the ground running on Saturday.

Goonan made an unbeaten 72 as Mt Clear cruised to a six-wicket win over Brown Hill.

The 39-year-old's score came off 107 deliveries and included 10 fours as the Mounties easily chased down the Bulls' 179.

"It was good, I haven't played for a while so it was good to get out there and see the ball," Goonan told The Courier.

"I took my time to get into it, it's a beautiful ground and it was great to hit a few.

"I had a good pre-season. And when I hit that first ball it felt good and everything just flowed in from that and I was able to build into the innings.

"We weren't chasing a massive target so it was good to be able to ease into it."

Goonan said family and work commitments had kept him sidelined in recent years.

"I'm a bit more relaxed than what I was where it used to mean everything," he said.

"I still want to win, but with a family there are bigger priorities now, so it's good to go out with a bit more of a relaxed attitude."

Nathan Yates (32) and Dylan Achison (29) were the next best contributors with the bat for the Mounties on Saturday.

Earlier, Sri Lankan recruit Imesh Udayanga made 66 for Brown Hill, which was eventually dismissed for 179 in the 48^th over of the one-day contest.

Brown Hill 179 (I Udayanga 66, R Knowles 27, D Fletcher 3/25, D Thomson 3/43, N Yates 2/26) def by Mt Clear 4/180 (M Goonan 72*, N Yates 32, D Achison 29, J Burns 27*, P Priyankara 2/24)

Ballarat-Redan recruit Sam Burgess starred in the Two Swords' victory over Golden Point at Alfredton 2.

Burgess smashed 85 from just 59 balls as his side chased down the Pointies' 196 with seven wickets in hand.

He also took 2-31 with the ball.

Burgess was in his first game for the club after heading out from England, where he has been playing second grade County Championship cricket with Kent.

Zac Jenkins (42 not out) and Jayden Hayes (32) helped with the successful run chase.

For Golden Point, skipper Josh White top-scored with 53, while Two Swords opener Brendan Thomson snared four wickets.

Ballarat-Redan 3/197 (S Burgess 85, Z Jenkins 42*, J Hayes 32) d Golden Point 196 (J White 53, A Falkner 29, B Thomson 4/21, S Burgess 2/31, M Hayes 2/45)

Boom recruit Sam Miller made 49 in his return to Wendouree on Saturday.

Miller opened the batting and formed a solid start for the Red Caps, which eventually reached 9-228 from their 50 overs.

Cole Roscholler (35), Craig Jenkins (30) and Heath Pyke (40) also found form at the top of the order.

In reply, Buninyong was only able to manage 169.

Harli Givvens (56) and Liam Rigby (42) were good through the middle order for the home side, while Russell Sharp (32) and Cameron Gell (23) added some late runs at the bottom of the order.

Ryan Simmonds was the best of the Red Caps bowlers with 4-28 and recruit Mayank Sharma claimed 4-49 for Buninyong.

Buninyong 169 (H Givvens 56, L Rigby 42, R Sharp 32, R Simmonds 4/28, A Creelman 3/27, S Miller 2/19) def by Wendouree 9/228 (S Miller 49, HI Pyke 40, C Roscholler 35, C Jenkins 30, M Sharma 4/49, L Rigby 3/36)

After going all of the 2018-19 season without a win, Napoleons-Sebastopol broke the drought in style on Saturday against North Ballarat.

Batting first, Mick Nolan played a lone hand for the Roosters with 72 in the modest overall total of 135.

And while it wasn't all smooth sailing in the home side's run chase, Naps-Sebas eventually recorded a four-wicket win in the 48^th over.

Skipper Dan Scott made 50, while Jonah Healey got an important 52.

Ash McCafferty took three wickets for the Roosters, while Naps-Sebas' English signing Harry Peirson was brilliant with 4-13 from 8.3 overs.

Naps-Sebas 6/137 (J Healey 52, D Scott 50, A McCafferty 3/27) d North Ballarat 135 (M Nolan 72, B Severino 27, H Peirson 4/13, M Messemaker 2/21, S Dissanayaka 2/22)

Over at Darley Park, the Lions got their new season off to a winning start against reigning premiers East Ballarat.

Darley skittled the Hawks for 123 and then chased down the target with five wickets and a couple of overs in hand.

Recruits Madushanka Ekanayaka and Rahmatullah Khwaja claimed three wickets each for the Lions, which were led by captain Brad Barnes and Englishman Harry Killoran with the bat. Both made 35.

Darley 5/125 (B Barnes 35, H Killoran 35, J Brown 2/18, J Nichols 2/34) d East Ballarat 123 (C Jerram 40, N Hynes 32, J Eyers 26, R Khwaja 3/13, H Killoran 3/20, M Ekanayaka 3/23)