Diamanti leads Mariners to victory
Brendon Diamanti shepherded Rockingham-Mandurah to victory against reigning premiers Wanneroo in the first grade WACA match at Kingsway Reserve at the weekend.
The New Zealand all-rounder, along with Joel Marion, started and finished the job, just as the Mariners looked like fluffing their lines.
The one-wicket win was set up by the bowling and fielding effort which left the Roos in tatters at 7/47.
Diamanti (3/14) and left-armer Marion (2/14) landed early blows before back-up from second gamer Stefan Botha (2/22) and spinner Ryan Done (2/28).
Wanneroo crawled to 118 and it was nearly enough as the Rockingham-Mandurah top order faltered.
Diamanti (49no) stayed cool and with Marion providing defensive support from 8/85, was able to stay in the middle long enough to get the Mariners their first win of the season.
In the T20 at Lark Hill on Sunday, the side fell on the wrong side of the ledger in another heartstopper as Melville showed why they was the testing material in the shortest form of the game with a four-run result going their way.
The Storm have won four of the last six titles in this format including the last two and made 5/136 work for them after winning the toss.
Nick Willis took 2/20 from his four overs and Aaron Burrage nipped in for 2/8 to support a workmanlike effort with the ball.
Rockingham-Mandurah skipper Brayden Sutton showed his penchant for T20 with a blazing 55 from just 47 balls.
Calm help came from seasoned campaigner Tony Coulson (28) and while the two experienced heads were at the crease, the Mariners held sway.
Their loss, within four runs of each other, turned the contest as new batsmen floundered.
In the lower grades, fourth grade claimed the points by 19 runs, while second and third just missed out.
Young opener Jake Eardley-Wilmott led the way in second's chase of Wanneroo's 205 at Lark Hill with 59.
Daniel Whiting chipped in with 27, but the Mariners came up five runs short at 9/200.
Jordan Brokate made for some nervous moments for Wanneroo's third grade batsmen, taking three quick wickets, trying in vain to defend just 94.
Brokate was voted Pink Duck Player of the Round, taking 4/19 on senior debut in round 1 and has revelled in the step up.
However, Wanneroo steadied and got to the finish line with four wickets in hand.
Fourth grade skipper Durradh Hagan top-scored with 26 not out and with other contributions from Richard Dawkins (24) and Cary Green (23), Rockingham-Mandurah scored a competitive 155.
In the Roos' innings, two wickets to Mohit Yadav, Lewis Pitts, Nathan Anderson and Ryan Hoskins were crucial in dismissing Wanneroo for 136.
The women's team started their T20 season with a narrow loss at Lilac Hill against Midland-Guildford on Sunday.
After keeping the home side to 6/74, they were eyeing the win, but had a middle innings collapse to fall for 60.
