By Aaron Kirby
Kwinana’s 2nd and 4th-grade teams kicked off the season with mixed results.
2nd grade travelled to Frye Park to take on Kelmscott who finished sixth in last year’s one-day competition.
Kwinana lost the toss and was put into bat.
The openers made a promising start before the middle order pushed on thanks to Kwinana debutant Matthew Parnham (35) and Kurt Verdonk (30).
A few late wickets restricted the total to 7-150.
Kelmscott was in trouble early in the innings at 4-21 and even a useful contribution of 47 from opening batsman Gillam Jones couldn’t rescue the innings with Kelmscott eventually bowled out for 128 in just 33.3 overs.
Kwinana’s bowlers were disciplined, sharing the wickets around with Daniel Bell finishing with the best figures of 2-9 including four maiden overs.
Kwinana’s 4th-grade side also played Kelmscott but had a tough day on home soil.
Kelmscott batted first and steadily picked off the bowling to keep a steady run rate.
This run rate was boosted by Kwinana’s wayward bowlers who bowled 33 extras pushing Kelmscott’s final total to 6-159.
Last year’s leading wicket-taker Mark James was the pick of the bowlers claiming 2-18 from his eight overs.
Kwinana’s batsmen showed little fight after crumbling early despite Captain Bart Pratt trying to lead a comeback scoring a patient 31n.o.
Kwinana was bowled out for 99 falling 60 runs short and registering a sound defeat.
Round 2 will see both sides in action again against Riverton-Rostrata with 2nd grade returning home to Orelia Oval.
