Rochester broke its McMahon Shield duck with a masterful batting performance against Leitchville-Gunbower.
Set 210 for victory following half-centuries to Vikai Kelley (67) and Tyler Jones (55), a 104-run partnership between Adrian Pappin and Sean Williams saw Rochester claim a five-wicket win to kick-start its 2022-23 campaign.
Pappin’s blistering 69 runs off 51 deliveries included nine boundaries — four of which were sixes — while Williams’ 34 helped Rochester pass Leitchville-Gunbower comfortably in the 38th over.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Jones and Blake Gelletly laid a solid platform for Leitchville-Gunbower in the final round of 2022 at Windridge Oval.
The duo compiled 51 runs on the back of Jones’s third half-century from four games in a sensational start to his season, now boasting 333 runs at an average of 66.
Rochester all-rounder Sean Williams sent both batters packing for the first two wickets of the day with skipper Dylan Cuttriss joining the action after trapping Liam Keath LBW.
Kelley and Kurt Brereton (46 not out) then combined at 3–84 for Leitchville-Gunbower, leaving the crease at 4–186 after a 102-run partnership, one of two for the game.
Rochester’s run chase experienced an early wobble with Brandon Byrne nicking off to Gelletly on the fourth ball of the innings, but Pappin and Williams recovered swiftly to post the second 100-run partnership of the day.
Simon Tatt accounted for both batters and Blake Evans for 11, but a watchful 32 runs from Joel Bunce and a slick 28 from Cuttriss saw Rochester safely navigate the chase with six overs to spare.
Rochester can now breathe easier after three straight losses to start the season, while Leitchville-Gunbower has now dropped out of the top four.