Colts’ T20 defence on track

Colts’ Twenty20 championship defence is on track after two dominant victories in the first two rounds of the competition on Saturday.

The reigning champions began their campaign with a big 64-run win over Eaton at the Recreation Ground.

The Beavers won the toss and set the home side in to bat, which turned out to be a mistake as Colts made a competitive 4/157 from their 20 overs.

Riley Miguel (33 runs) and Dylan Bairstow (30) set a solid foundation for Colts.

Captain Clayton Caltsounis (2-26 from four overs) removed both openers to put Eaton back in the match, but Murray Goodwin scored a match-winning 61 from just 37 balls to set the Beavers a tough chase.

Eaton tried their best to chase the total, but fell way short, finishing with 9/93 from their 20 overs.

James Hillery was solid with 25 from 27 balls, while Caltsounis hit two sixes in his 24-run knock.

Jordan Stynes was the best of the bowlers for Colts, grabbing 3-13 from two overs.

Colts backed this up with a comfortable six-wicket win over Leschenault in the afternoon.

Some excellent bowling from the home side kept Leschenault to just 8/86 from their 20 overs, with Connor Ipsen, Ethan Kelly and Stynes all taking two wickets each.

Jayden Goodwin top-scored for the match with 48 runs from 46 balls, with Colts chasing the total down in 16.2 overs.

Earlier in the day Leschenault defeated Collie by seven wickets at the Leschenault Recreation Ground thanks to an excellent 41 from Nathan Douch.

Collie were sent in to bat by Leschenault and struggled to 8/86 from their 20 overs.

The Coalminers were left reeling at 3/13 thanks to a fiery opening spell from Nick Webb (3-12 from four overs) before Austin Kent (26 runs) and Matt Tanner (22) put on a 32-run partnership.

Douch went about destroying Collie's bowling line-up, partnering with Riley Italiano (27 not out) to lead Leschenault to victory.

Dalyellup Beach and Hay Park were forced to settle for a draw in the first game after their opening game was abandoned due to poor pitch conditions.

Reon Tither took three wickets in the opening over of the game for the Redbacks, before umpire Lloyd Rolfe called the game off due to the dangerous conditions.

Dalyellup's day would get better though when they defeated Marist by seven wickets at Forrest Park.

The Blues struggled with the bat, scoring 8/86 from their 20 overs with their powerful batting line-up failing to fire.

Dan Lomax (2-9 off two) and Corey Fagan (2-15 off three overs) were the best of the bowlers for Dalyellup, while Blues recruit Kyle Davis hit a solid 40 runs off 50 balls to save Marist's innings.

Dalyellup made short work of the total with Fagan (29) and Lomax (28) helping the visitors to pass the total in the 16th over.

Eaton finished the round with a 59-run win over Hay Park at Hay Park.

The Redbacks sent Eaton into bat, but this proved disastrous as Matt Davies (77 runs off 55) and Caltsounis (60 off 43 balls) shared an unbeaten 119-run partnership to set Hay Park a tough chase of 3/156.

Michael Byrne then dismissed Redbacks captain Jono Whitney and opener Marty Foster early, before consistent wickets from their bowling line-up left Hay Park at 9/97 from their 20 overs.