One hundred and eighty-two runs proved to be not enough for Canowindra's A graders on Saturday afternoon when they took on a Mick Curtale led Bowling Club team at Tom Clyburn Oval.
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In this season's opener both teams showed plenty of promise but it was Curtale's incredible knock of 156 not out that stole the show and made victory look easy for his Cowra club team.
Canowindra captain Brendan Traves was impressed with his teams batting but admitted there wasn't much his team could do in the field.
"I thought 182 was an above par score and one we would be able to defend early in the season," he said.
"But he (Curtale) was on song and there was no stopping him."
After winning the toss and batting Canowindra scored consistently at four an over, going in comfortably at the break at 2/76 with Ben Schaefer (23) and Gurpreet Singh (8) the only two men down.
Both batsmen were scalps of Curtale (2-17) who bowled eight straight overs along with opening partner Aaron Thorn (0-36).
Lifting the scoring rate after drinks Matt Harrison (29) and Peter Guthrie (73) kept the runs flowing and built a solid platform for the hosts to capitalise on in the final 10 overs.
However, a few wickets and some tight bowling from Al Lovett (3-31) restricted Canowindra to a total of under 200 from their alotted 40 overs.
In reply, the Canowindra bowlers were left dumbfounded not knowing where to bowl to a free hitting Curtale who, after hitting three sixes in the second over, never looked back.
Matt Crawley (16) and Sai Penukonda (1) were both victims of skipper Brendan Traves (2-69), but it was the other end that caused the damage as Bowling Club rode home on the back of Curtale's 156 not out.
Paul Basham (4 not out) added four runs in the final partnership of 91 which put Canowindra out of their misery and kick-started Bowling Club's 2014/15 campaign with an eight wicket win.
"Only losing six wickets and batting our 40 overs was a real positive, our top order did well and young Matty Harrison showed some good signs for future games," said Traves.
Canowindra play the Young Criterion Hotel this Saturday at Holman Oval in Cowra at 1pm.