Collapse hits smart start for Mariners

After along pre-season, Rockingham-Mandurah Cricket Club began the 2012/13 First Grade season against coastal rivals Fremantle at the weekend.

Openers Brayden Sutton (23) and new captain Sam Whiteman (31) got the side off to a solid start after adding 54 for the first wicket.

Rockingham-Mandurah were well placed at 2-80 at lunch, before a middle-order collapse saw the visitors slump to 6-125.

Number nine Chris Loveridge added some respect to the score with an import late knock. Loveridge finished unbeaten on 41 to emerge as the Mariners’ top scorer.

In the 17 overs before stumps, Rockingham-Mandurah’s Brendan Diamanti claimed Fremantle opener Matthew Milton for two. However, some resolute batting guided Fremantle to 1-30 at stumps.

In the corresponding Second Grade match, the Mariners battled hard all day against a very good Fremantle bowling attack.

Kris Kennedy (47) and captain and new club president Dan Whiting (32) were able to keep the Mariners in the game, but they were eventually all out for 178.

In reply, Fremantle’s openers weathered an early storm to finish at 0-49.

Third Grade toiled hard in the field, but the Fremantle batsmen took to the Mariners attack in brutal fashion. At close of play, Rockingham-Mandurah were left licking their wounds as the Fremantle amassed 3/397.

Fourth Grade got off to a great start at 1-80, but a dramatic collapse saw them slump to 7-85. A brilliant 50 not out by debutant James Capener saw them rally to be all out for 179. Pierce Dawson chipped in with a handy 35.

At stumps Fremantle were 1/29.

Sunday also saw the start of the Statewide Twenty 20 competition, with Rockingham-Mandurah taking on Melville at Tomkins Park.

Agood bowling display saw Melville bowled out for 97 in the 18th over.

State spinner Aaron Heal took the bowling honours with 4-11 from his four overs. Stand-in wicket keeper Brayden Sutton acquitted himself well behind the stumps including a good stumping off Heal.

Simmons (21) and Diamanti (27) put the Mariners on track for victory, but a middle-order collapse saw them go from a comfortable 1-42 after six overs to 7-70. Heal (23) battled with the tail.

With 14 required off the last over, he hit boundaries to leave side needing three runs from the last ball.

But a great piece of fielding saw Heal run out, leaving the Mariners with a battle stay in the competition.