WARRNAMBOOL is bullish about its Melbourne Country Week chances after starting with a convincing 181-run win on Monday.
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Mark Murphy (62), Nick Butters (42) and Jason Perera (40) steered Warrnambool to a commanding 9-267 before debutant Xavier Beks (3-17) helped dismiss Warragul and District for 86.
Captain Butters said it was a pleasing start to its division two campaign.
"I would've liked one of us to go on and get a big score but we have all had a good hit," he said. "Hopefully we'll build on it and one of us will go on and make 80 or 100."
Butters said Warrnambool's bowling performance was "super".
"Xavier bowled 10 (overs) straight and got 3-17, for a guy on his first tour, it was really pleasing the way he went," he said.
"Alex Jennings and Hank Schlaghecke bowled well and Jacob Hetherington cleaned up the tail."
Warrnambool plays Shepparton on Tuesday with Butters eager to make it two straight victories.
"We know how important it is to win on Monday, it sets up our week," he said.
Captain Todd Lamont top-scored for South West in its six-wicket division three loss to Bellarine in Geelong.
Lamont's 50 helped South West to 156 - a total Bellarine reeled in in 31 overs. Lamont lamented the start, describing it as "not ideal".
"We kept losing wickets. We batted first and the pitch was a little damp," he said.
"A lot of our dismissals were batsmen-related. We couldn't get any momentum going.
"It was a quick outfield and we needed 200-plus. We got early wickets but Bellarine kept ticking the score over."
South West is one of only four sides in division three, meaning it is guaranteed a semi-final spot on Thursday regardless of win-loss record.
But Lamont said the side was determined to take winning momentum in, starting against Hamilton and District on Tuesday.
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