ST MARYS have jumped to an early lead on the table after being the only undefeated side in the opening round of the A-Grade T20 competition in the Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association last Saturday.
Saints defeated YOBS with one over to spare in the first game at Barnard Park last Saturday, then dispatched Margaret River Hawks by 15 runs in the second game.
Out at Bovell Park, Dunsborough comfortably defeated Hawks by 48 runs in the first game, before YOBS arrived and overcame Dunsborough in the second game with five balls to spare.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Ajith Rajapaksha (39 not out) and Jono Lloyd (34) were the batting stars for Saints in the first game, while captain Danny Hatton (59) and Nick Ritchie (36 not out) led Saints to victory in the second game.
YOBS owed their win over Dunsborough to an excellent late-order innings by allrounder Ben Payne, who struck 35 not out from 20 balls to get his side over the line.
Billy McGowan (4 wickets) and Michael Vogelsanger (3 wickets) were Dunsborough's best performers with the ball against YOBS.
Earlier, Tom Begley (52 runs) led Dunsborough's charge against Hawks in the first game at Bovell Park, with Chris King (33) and Phil Watts (34) providing excellent support with the bat and Hugh Mugford (4 wickets) leading the bowling attack.
Shane Joyce (33 runs) and Danny Weston (3 wickets) were Hawks' best contributors against Dunsborough, while Grant Garstone chipped in with an outstanding five-wicket haul in a losing cause against St Marys.
The A-Grade T20 competition will see each team play six games over the next month, before the grand finals at Barnard Park on February 13.
The two B-Grade home-and-away games played last Saturday resulted in wins by St Marys against YOBS and Dunsborough over Vasse.
YOBS were routed for 77 by Saints on the synthetic wicket at Barnard Park, a target which Saints made light work of in just 14.2 overs with the loss of two wickets.
Justin Gower (three wickets) and Kurt Davis (30 runs) led the St Marys charge while Lincoln Gray (21 runs) was the best performer for YOBS.
On the synthetic wicket at Bovell Park, Vasse were dismissed for 107 by Dunsborough, who then took 31 overs and lost six wickets in their successful attempt to win the game.
In C-Grade cricket last Saturday, Vasse (6-157, with Dennis Amour hitting 51 runs) were overhauled by St Marys (4-158) at the Vasse Playing Fields with 11 balls to spare, Graeme Sly (57 not out) showing his experience for Saints to play the decisive role.
At Nannup, Margaret River Hawks were dismissed for 81 with Jesse Mills (3-8) returning the best figures for Nannup.
Nannup replied with 2-84 in 18.4 overs with star batsman Jay Wynd continuing his form with an unbeaten 50 which included 44 runs in boundaries (2 fours and 6 sixes).
The remaining game saw Cowaramup continue their encouraging form by tallying 6-222 from 40 overs against YOBS with Ben Kirkham (73 runs) and young Matthew Burgess (42 not out) the main contributors with the bat.
YOBS were held in their reply to 193 all out, with skipper Mark Barrett-Lennard (4 wickets) leading his Cowaramup charges in the field.