Pioneer Valley Cricket Club have staked an early claim for the Mackay Cricket Association Division One Twenty20 Shootout championship title.
The undefeated Valley X1 launched their series campaign last week with three impressive victories in the 20 overs format and lead the competition on 18 points.
Norths Devils and the Magpies are in second and third spots respectively on 12 points after each registering two wins from three fixtures completed.
Gun all-rounder Cody Filewood is the Valley’s cricketer of the moment – smashing 200 runs from his three appearances with the bat at an impressive average of 100.
A highlight was Filewood’s unbeaten knock of 111 in Pioneer’s comprehensive win over Brothers last Saturday at Mirani State High School grounds.
The talented number three faced only 58 balls and cracked five massive sixes and twelve boundaries in a cavalier knock to help the Valley post 1-190.
Filewood shared an unbroken second wicket partnership of 176 with opener Dion Krisanski-Kennedy (61 not out) – then grabbed 3-23 with his off-spin bowling to help restrict Brothers to 8-137.
In the Valley’s opening round win over Walkerston, the dashing Filewood hammered 69 and also hit a quick 20 runs in his team’s resounding victory over Souths.
Another highlight was a superb century from Walkerston’s legendary representative batsman Jakob Frerichs in a gripping loss to Norths at Roy Trevaskis Oval.
The left-handed opener and team vice-captain clouted an unbeaten 122 off only 59 balls to help Walkerston register 6-197 with support from Luke Jackson (21).
Frerichs smashed an incredible eleven sixes and ten boundaries during his epic knock – but to no avail as the Devils (5-198) reached the target with five balls to spare.
Norths were best served by Lane Kohler who cracked a power-laden 84 off 39 balls with seven boundaries and seven sixes, Darryn Dyer (46), Jason Butterworth (25), Chris Day (19 not out), Kai Higham (2-29) and Mason Kohler (2-39).
Mason peeled off an unbeaten 49 to guide the Devils (2-98) to a first round triumph over Souths (97) with Jarryd Kallio (4-20) and Lane Kohler (3-18) the chief destroyers with the ball.
Souths skipper Shaun Austin played a lone hand with 48.
Magpies (9-129) edged out Norths (9-126) with Rhys McBride (42), Adam Zurvas (25) and Todd Dixon (3-19) leading the way and rolled Souths for 77 – posting their second win after top knocks from McBride (37), Adam Zurvas (23 not out) and fine bowling from leg spinner Liam Zurvas (2-9), Tim Heard (2-13), Dixon (2-19) and Conor Bryant (2-21).
Brothers (2-47) skittled the Magpies (46) with Michael Dunn (4-13), Chris Dunn (2-10), Floris Douvenhage (2-10) and Mitch Wadsworth (2-13) impressive with the ball.
Mackay-Whitsunday representative skipper Sam Vassallo starred for Walkerston with knocks of 40 and 68 not out with support from Neil Gustavson (33 and 30) and swing merchant Adam Knezevic (4-31).
