SOUTH Wagga's premiership defence began in ideal fashion after young all-rounder Jake Scott and spinner Adam Whitbread set up a seven-wicket victory over Kooringal Colts at Harris Park on Saturday.
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Fresh from a century in Canberra cricket, youngster Scott took 2-30 with the ball to help dismiss the Colts for 127, before striking 40 not out as the Blues made light work of the run chase.
Leg spinner Whitbread finished with 2-16 off ten overs, including three maidens, before the Blues' batsmen finished the job in the 26th over just before storms set in.
Teetering at 3-30, Hamish Starr (32) and Andrew Dutton (34) compiled a 45-run partnership for Colts. But when Starr was caught and bowled by Scott, the bottom order offered little resistance.
Blues opener Alex Smeeth (33 off 32 balls) got his team ahead of the game from the outset in the run chase, before Scott and Joel Robinson (37 not out) put on an unbeaten 71-run partnership.
South Wagga skipper Luke Gerhard said the victory in the grand final re-match was a nice start before a clash with fellow round one winners Wagga City next week.
"It was pleasing to get the result to start off the season," he said.
"Jake's a quality cricketer and I think he's taken his game to another level this year, which showed in the game.
"He floated around five and six last year (in the batting line-up before batting at four on Saturday.) He's another year older and is a lot stronger now. He took the game on.
"Getting Hamish (Starr) out was definitely the wicket we needed. They were ticking it along pretty well and that was a massive wicket. And Adam Whitbread bowled very well for us on a smallish ground."
South Wagga won the toss and elected to bowl after the rain in the lead-up to the match.
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"We bowled as the covers were on for a few days and we thought we might get something out of it early. The wicket flattened out and for a round one wicket, it was pretty good.
"Those smallish totals can be tricky ones and you can be a bit nervous going out to bat. But it was pleasing that Joel and Jake got on with the job, and Smeethy got us off to a flyer.
"For a round one pitch when we haven't had too many hot days and little preparation time, I thought (curator) Greg Hanigan did a cracking job with it."
The Colts will be looking for an immediate response when they take on Lake Albert at Rawlings Park in round two.
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