IN a big day for the underdogs, the first one-day round of the South Coast Cricket competition will be remembered for its upsets, featuring wins to Kiama, The Rail and Albion Park on Saturday.
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Kiama Cavaliers caused a huge upset when they beat last year's minor premiers Lake Illawarra at Howard Fowles Oval.
After winning the toss and batting, the home side never really got going and were bowled out for just 71, scored off 35.1 overs.
Captain Shane Cody was the only Lake batsman to really threaten with a patient 27.
Meanwhile, four Kiama bowlers shared in the spoils, Matt O'Brien taking 4-11 off 6.1 overs. He was well supported by Ben King-Gee, Anthony Mortimer and Andrew Hart, who each took two wickets.
The Cavaliers also struggled and at one stage were 2-4, but Jaya Hartgerink and Ben King-Gee took the score to 45 before a mini-collapse had them in danger at 6-54. The steady hand of Mark Brockman (12 not out) guided them home.
The Rail also picked up a surprise victory, catching premiers Warilla Sports off-guard at Oakleigh Park.
Fielding just ten players, The Rail managed a meagre 101, a last-wicket partnership of 21 between Aaron Mason and Tim Goodall giving them much-needed momentum. Darren O'Connell top-scored with 27.
Colin Leaudais took 3-21 and Scott Cox 2-12 to lead the Sports' bowling attack.
In reply the Kookas could only scrape together 66 off 29.4 overs, with Mick Perry top-scoring with 24. Simon Bartlett (5-21) and Col Yeaman (2-5) bowled superbly.
A late-innings recovery from Albion Park gave them a convincing 99-run win over Gerringong-Jamberoo at Gerry Emery Oval.
The Eagles fell to 7-80 at one stage before a 135-run partnership between Adam Coughlan (69 not out) and Raheel Chaudry (45) helped them finish with 228.
Dan Jones (3-34) was pick of the bowlers, while Adam Skorulis and Scott Groves both took two wickets. The combined side were never really in the hunt after losing three early wickets and were dismissed for 129.
Spinner Jack Bennett showed his value to take 3-29, while Coughlan and Rob Monaghan each bagged two wickets.
The remaining game featured Oak Flats scoring a solid win over Shellharbour at Geoff Shaw Oval.
The Rats amassed a competitive 203, with Andrew Newman, Ryan Chatterton, Nathan Brown and Jaye Jackman all contributing scores of 20-plus. Ben Mitchell (3-26), Brinley Richards and Matt Jones all snared multiple wickets.
In reply, it was again left to Mitchell and Richards to launch a major assault on the score after they had fallen to 3-18, but once the pair were parted at 104, there was little resistance and were dismissed for 148.
