Reigning premier Kensington has proved too strong for Southern Districts in the opening round of the SACA 1st Grade competition at Parkinson Oval on Saturday. Southern Districts won the toss and decided to bat first on a hot and overcast morning. Unfortunately the Stingrays lost both openers early to be sitting precariously at 2/8. Brendan McCormack (24) and Matthew Sugg (12) launched a rescue mission and moved the score along to 50 before both players were dismissed as the Stingrays slumped to 4/50. Victorian recruit Sunam Gautam (46) was joined by the experienced David Sboro (61) as the two middle-order batsmen started to get Southern Districts back into the game with a fine 89-run stand for the fifth wicket. Once Gautam was dismissed, Sboro continued on to post an excellent half century and he got some welcome support from the returning Tom Joraslafsky (24 n.o.) as the Stingrays lifted their total to a respectable 8/209 from their 50 overs. Major wicket-takers for the Browns were leg-spinner Lloyd Pope (3/43) and David Grant (2/49).

The Stingrays needed early wickets against a strong Kensington batting lineup but it wasn't to be as Jake Brown (43) and Eastern Suburbs (NSW) recruit Henry Hunt (79 n.o.) put on 74 for the first wicket. John Dalton (73) and Hunt then took the Browns within sight of victory with an excellent 128-run second wicket stand as the winning runs were knocked off with 13.2 overs remaining. The wicket takers for Southern Districts were Gautam 1/38 (10) and Trent Riddle 1/58 (7).

The Stingrays will look to bounce back next Saturday when they face Northern Districts at Bice Oval. The game is a one-day fixture (50 overs) starting at 10.30am.

Scores:

1st Grade: Kensington 2/210 defeated Southern Districts 8/209 by eight wickets

2nd Grade: Kensington 3/238 defeated Southern Districts 136 all out by 102 runs

3rd Grade: Kensington 4/142 defeated Southern Districts 8/140 by six wickets

4th Grade: Kensington 6/285 defeated Southern Districts 117 all out by 168 runs