Walker slays Optis for 122

JUSTIN WALKER made a superb century as Randy Paddle Mavericks opened their Carey Olsen Championship campaign with a well-deserved victory on Saturday. The hybrid club, which had its first appearance in the league delayed by the poor weather of the previous weekend, overcame a gallant Optimists side and put out a warning to the other three teams that they mean business.

The strength in depth is certainly there for Mavericks to mount a title challenge in their first season.

The foundations for this 23-run win was laid by number three Walker and his skipper Glenn Milnes after Mavericks had lost both openers in the space of three overs.

Steve Queripel claimed both, trapping Vince Kenny leg before taking an excellent one-handed return catch to dismiss Mike Webber, who was playing against his former club and had just hit Mike Kinder for six over long-on.

Walker and Milnes were brought together in the 10th over with the score on 21 and never looked in any trouble for the next 22 overs as they put on 118 for the third wicket.

The captain was the more free-scoring of the two in the initial stages of the partnership as he almost effortlessly accumulated runs with some delightful drives and nonchalant flicks through the legside.

Walker was at ease just blocking the good balls and pushing the occasional ones and twos, although a six over square leg was a sign of things to come.

Milnes reached his half-century first with a single pushed through mid-wicket off the 53rd delivery he faced. He had hit five fours.

However, the New Zealander did not last much longer. On 57, the culture he had shown throughout his knock came to an abrupt end and he was duly bowled attempting to slog Elliot Green out of the ground.

By that time, though, Walker had accelerated quite dramatically and had added a second six to his tally.

More were to follow, mainly over mid-wicket, with the biggest of the lot reaching his team-mates in front of the pavilion on the first bounce, although he deposited one over extra-cover.

His half-century had come up with one of the few fours he hit having faced 64 balls.

The next 50 runs took just 34 balls to compile.

He had moved into the 90s with his sixth six and it was only fitting that in the next over he brought up the magical three figures with his seventh - another one over extra cover.

Walker ended with an unbeaten and chanceless 122 during which he cleared the boundary eight times.

After Milnes' departure, he had been ably supported by Robbie Moore who contributed a more than useful 37 not out at quicker than a run-a-ball as Mavericks finished on 238 for three from their 45.

That always looked as if it was going to be a winning score, especially with Optimists missing best player Ami Banerjee due to his Elizabeth College commitments, but their opponents had a good go at the chase.

Mark Jefferies and Mark Clapham got them off to a solid start, putting on 42 for the first wicket before Dave Hearse clipped the former's off stump with his second ball and Green went soon after with Andy Burkhardt knocking back his leg stump.

But the partnership to break was to be that of Clapham and Andy Biggins as they looked very comfortable adding 56 for the third wicket, dispatching the bad balls with ease.

It was Milnes who finally did the trick as Clapham, who had just reached his fifty with a six over square leg, was trapped leg before.

When Biggins was dismissed in the same way for 47, which included four fours and three sixes, it was to be an uphill struggle for Optimists with 96 still required.

Divan van den Heever made it an interesting finale with his 45 from 38 and he hit arguably the best six of the game with a straight checked drive off Hearse that thudded into the sight screen on the bounce.

But the South African lost his partners at a regular rate and when Phil Cox bowled him to claim his third wicket at the death, it sealed Mavericks' maiden win.