Vic Country ready to shine

Having overhauled its side following a disappointing showing in Geelong last year, Victoria’s new-look batting line-up fired on the opening day of the competition as it posted 284 against Northern Territory.

Despite the early loss of Geelong young gun Eamon Vines for eight, a 94-run stand between Mornington Peninsula’s Rob Hearn and Rob Wilson laid the platform for an imposing total.

Having stroked six boundaries during his 109-ball stay in the middle, Hearn fell seven runs shy of his half-century, but there would be no denying Wilson, who hammered eight boundaries and two sixes en route to 77.

A stoic 13 (86) from skipper Heath Pyke, making his seventh appearance at the carnival, and a handy 27 (57) from Swan Hill’s Leigh Kentish proved the perfect foil for Traralgon’s Adrian Burgeil, who bludgeoned 87 from 126 balls to top-score for the Vics.

Having to face two nervous overs before stumps, Geelong quick Trent Walerys struck with his second delivery to trap the dangerous Grant Bell for a duck to leave the Territorians precariously placed at 1-4 overnight.

To see a full scorecard from the opening day of the Australian Country Cricket Championships, click here.

Victoria Country squad

Heath Pyke (Ballarat) Captain
Adrian Burgeil (Traralgon)
Tristan Dixon (Ballarat)
Dwayne Doig (Mornington Peninsula)
Justin Grant (Mornington Peninsula)
Rob Hearn (Mornington Peninsula)
Lukas Hoogenboom (West Gippsland)
Leigh Kentish (Swan Hill)
Liam Scammell (Albury Wodonga)
Eamon Vines (Geelong)
Trent Walerys (Geelong)
Rob Wilson (Mornington Peninsula)
Ramadan Yze (Shepparton)