NARRANDERA Carpheads started their 2016-2017 season off with a strong win over the Leeton and District Cricket Club with seven wickets still in hand.
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The 2015-16 season premiers lost the toss to L&D who chose to bat first.
Chris Cox (18) and Steve Campbell (6) started the match off for the Ferrets.
Campbell was the first to fall victim to the Carpheads, caught and bowled by Jake Anderson (2).
Mitch Hardie came in to replace Campbell, but couldn't produce for the side.
Cox was the next to fall, this time caught and bowled by Rohan Rehwinkel (2).
In came heavy-hitter Ben Killen (33) who proceeded to score some much needed runs for the Ferrets.
Hardie was quickly bowled out Johnathon Doyle (1) and was replaced by Stuart Browne (21).
Browne and Killen tried to get something going against Narrandera before Browne was out LBW from a ball delivered by Ryan Argus (1).
Richard Smith (18) stepped in for Brown and kept the runs going, but the side was running out of time.
Justin Kelly (24*) replaced Smith who was bowled out by Jacob Anderson and continued the final push for runs.
Killen finally fell from a ball delivered by Rehwinkel and was replaced by Ben Elwin (7*) who couldn't contribute before the side finished.
Narrandera’s battsmen Anthony Craig (28) and Lachie Jess (28) took to the field for the first time in the 2016-17 season and proceeded to push their way to a strong 56-run partnership.
Craig would be the first to fall, from a ball delivered by Rhett MacGregor (1) that was caught out by Justin Kelly.
Jess was the next to fall victim to the Ferrets, caught out by Mitch Hardie on a ball delivered by Steve Campbell (2).
Narrandera had clearly not lost any ground in the off-season and the defending premiers were building up momentum.
Rehwinkel (14) would replace Craig, but was bowled out by Steve Campbell after scoring only 14 runs.
Brent Lawrence (51*), who replaced the departing Jess, would prove to be the powerhouse hitter of the day.
Unfortunately the Ferrets couldn't keep the Carpheads batsmen in check, giving up a half century to Lawrence.
Jacob Anderson (18) would step in after Rehwinkel was dismissed and helped Lawrence put the final nail in the coffin to secure the victory over L&D with seven wickets still in hand.
While the Ferrets bats were strong, it would prove to be their bowling that cost them the game.
While Campbell and MacGregor took much needed wickets Elwin, Jonte Schmetzer, Killen, and Kelly couldn't produce.
Three consecutive premierships behind them, Narrandera could be offering a preview of their season to come.
