Skipper’s knock setsup Portvictory

Defending champions Port Hedland Cricket Club continued their dominant start to the Ray Stoddart Shield defeating South Hedland by 32 runs last week.

Port Hedland won the toss and elected to bat making 31 runs before Kevin Johnston was clean bowled for 22 by Julian Wilmott in the fifth over.

Captain Chris Briody starred for Port Hedland smashing 10 fours and a six on his way to a 58-ball 92 runs to bring his side to an intimidating total of 6-164.

Briody had support from Jarrad O’Dea who scored 26 from 22 balls before being dismissed by Clint Ernst.

South Hedland capitalised on the broken partnership to take late wickets and hold Port to a chaseable total.

But unfortunately for South they struggled to get going, losing their first wicket in the second over before Ernst was dismissed in the seventh, leaving them 2-48 with 13 overs to go.

Tight bowling from Port Hedland meant South were always on the back foot, eventually needing 58 runs from the final five overs.

The total proved too much with Port Hedland bowling out South in the 20th over for 132.

Briody said South Hedland had improved a lot since the last season and he was happy to get the win.

“We had all our bowlers tonight, and they (South) went after it, so kudos to them,” he said.

Meanwhile in the other round two games Wanderers defeated Miners by 15 runs 3-177 to 5-162 on the back of a quickfire inning of 95 from 47 by Matthew Bloxsidge.

Hedland Lions crushed South Hedland by 39 runs, bowling out South for just 83 runs in the 19th over.