SOUTH East enjoyed a successful start to its Senior Country Cup campaign with a convincing win over Yorke Peninsula at Glenelg Oval last week.
Matthew McInerney and debutante Tom Nieuwerkerk led the team to a seven-wicket win after it bowled out Yorke Peninsula for 173 in the one-day game.
South East opening bowlers Luke Wiese and Tim Young dictated terms from the outset with a string of maiden overs.
The dot-ball pressure proved too much for Thomas Rankine, who was bowled by Wiese for a 17-ball duck.
After six overs, Yorke Peninsula was yet to get off the mark and had already lost its first wicket, so Nathan Allen decided to lift the intensity.
Allen struck three boundaries and a six during a quick-fire innings, but he eventually became Wiese’s second victim on 26.
The introduction of Declan Kenny into the bowling attack paid off when he clean-bowled Lachlan Pointon for a low score shortly after.
At 3/43, York Peninsula’s remaining opener Shane Moss was in desperate need of a partner to support him and build a recovery.
Ryan McPharlin arrived at the crease with confidence and forced Moss to take a back seat.
The middle-order batsman swung the momentum with an aggressive innings, which pushed his side out of trouble.
McPharlin found the boundary rope at regular intervals and raced to a half century, while Moss remained resolute in defence and ticked the strike over at the other end.
Their partnership was approaching triple figures, but Moss’ defiant innings of 29 runs off 94 balls came to an end when Nieuwerkerk found a way past the opener’s solid technique.
Despite the breakthrough, McPharlin continued his assault and attacked Niewerkerk in particular.
But the persistence of the young spinner paid off and he secured the big wicket of McPharlin for 76.
His downfall put Yorke Peninsula in a vulnerable position at 5/155 and the South East bowlers pounced.
Yorke Peninsula’s tail crumbled to be bowled out for 173 with five overs remaining.
Nieuwerkerk finished off his impressive debut with figures of 4/33 and a run out, while Wiese claimed 3/29 and Kenny and McInerney picked up one wicket each.
With an under-par target on the board, South East’s opening batsmen Jake Schutz and Sam Graetz began with confidence.
The pair saw out the new ball and scored 40 runs from the first 10 overs.
But two quick wickets derailed the run chase after Graetz and Mark Smith were caught for 11 and one respectively.
Yorke Peninsula sensed an opportunity and increased the pressure.
However, new-batsman McInerney fought through the challenging period and started to score runs with freedom.
He and Schutz eased their sides nerves with an important 58-run partnership.
Schutz eventually fell four runs short of a half century, but McInerney’s confidence continued to grow.
He teamed up with Jacob McGrice to ice the game with a dominant stand.
McGrice provided solid support with 23 not out, as McInerney struck nine fours and three maximums to finish with an unbeaten 89.
The pair ensured South East wrapped up the victory with 16 overs to spare.
South East’s second match was played yesterday against Eyre Peninsula with a report to be included in tomorrow’s edition of The Border Watch.
