Vic Super Slam: Upset results on opening day of Twenty20 tournament

Wet weather couldn’t dampen Victoria’s answer to the Big Bash League, which arrived yesterday with a flurry of boundaries and plenty of fans. Here are the next round’s fixtures.

Tim Michell

3 min read

November 26, 2018 - 10:38AM

Northcote Leader

Geelong's Jake Reed celebrates a catch during Round 1 of the Vic Super Slam. Picture: Arj Giese

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Wet weather couldn’t dampen Victoria’s answer to the Big Bash League, which arrived yesterday with a flurry of boundaries and plenty of fans.

Switched to Greenvale Reserve in Melbourne’s outer north after rain caused Carlton’s Princes Park to be deemed unplayable, the new Twenty20 tournament kicked off with Greenvale Kangaroos against Fitzroy Doncaster and Essendon facing Carlton under gloomy skies.

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Across town, Cricket Victoria faced similar logistic issues when matches in the Stars Conference were switched from Kingston’s Walter Galt Reserve to AH Butler Oval in Frankston.

But when play got underway, the healthy crowds at each venue got what they were promised.

There was entertainment in abundance at Greenvale as the host club shocked Fitzroy Doncaster in one of the morning matches.

Northcote keeper Blayde Baker celebrates a sharp catch during Round 1 of the Vic Super Slam. Picture: Arj Giese

Buoyed by a 50-run partnership between Nepalese all-rounder Sunam Guatam (35) and Anthony Barton (25), the Roos overcame an early onslaught from Jack Ryder medallist Trent Lawford to post 8-122.

There were danger signs early for Greenvale when Lawford carved through its top order, reducing the Roos to 4-25.

But they rallied to post a competitive total and set the Lions more than a-run-a-ball for victory.

Geelong's Hayden Butterworth takes a diving catch during Round 1 of the Vic Super Slam. Picture: Arj Giese

Peter Dickson made Fitzroy Doncaster’s intentions clear when he sent the first ball of Fitzroy Doncaster’s chase from ex-Victorian seamer Ryan Sidebottom to the cover boundary.

Momentum shifted in Greenvale’s favour through the middle of the innings as Bendigo tweaker Liam Smith (1-22) and Kyle Adams (1-24) impressed.

The Lions needed 15 off the last over and the match went down to the final ball, when Nat Vardi’s drive to long on resulted in two runs and a one-run Greenvale victory.

The Roos celebrated their first win under coach Matthew Love with gusto, an indication of the importance Premier clubs have placed on the Super Slam.

Any suggestions the new T20 competition would be a token addition to the Premier Cricket fixture had been quickly dispelled.

Greenvale Kangaroos celebrate their Vic Super Slam win over Fitzroy Doncaster. Picture: Arj Giese

On the back oval, Carlton went two from two as it defeated Essendon by seven wickets in the morning, went and enjoyed a team lunch before returning to beat Northcote in the twilight fixture.

The Blues’ 4pm fixture went down to the wire after all-rounder Sam Harbinson (55 from 30 balls) launched Northcote to 7-168.

Nick Ross hammered 67 from 41 balls in Carlton’s reply, but it took a 52-run seventh-wicket stand between Donovan Pell (32 from 21) and Xavier Crone (31 from 16) to will the Blues home with five balls to spare.

Melbourne Renegades keeper-batsman Tim Ludeman hammered 59 from 42 balls in Geelong’s win over Greenvale, completing a successful double header for the Cats after they earlier accounted for Fitzroy Doncaster.

Fitzroy Doncaster's Sam Elliott during Round 1 of the Vic Super Slam. Picture: Arj Giese

The tournament was embraced by supporters, who poured into Greenvale Reserve in their hundreds throughout the day.

Eight matches were played in Melbourne’s east and south, with Prahran, St Kilda and Monash Tigers emerging undefeated.

Dutch international Scott Edwards lit up Central Reserve North with 73 from 48 balls in the Tigers’ victory over Camberwell Magpies, while Nic Maddinson bludgeoned 61 from 40 balls to lead the Saints past Frankston Peninsula.