SALE-MAFFRA commenced its Twenty20 season on Tuesday.

The competition has been split into two pools, with each pool to play three home-and-away matches.

In Pool 1, opening round victories went to Sale and Boisdale-Briagolong.

The Swans easily accounted for Bundalaguah.

The Bulls elected to bowl first at Sale Oval, and saw their opponents close with 140 on the board.

South African Garreth Wolmarans led the scoring with an unbeaten 53 off 32 balls, while Matt Raidal played a busy hand of 30 off 24 coming in first drop.

Steve Spoljaric and Johandre Barnard each took two wickets for Bundalaguah.

The Bulls failed to get going with the bat, and finished 9/99 at compulsory close.

Pace off seemed to do the trick for the Swans, as John Mayman cleaned up with figures of 4/18 off four overs.

The T20 format did however come with some positives for Bundalaguah, as young Lachlan Wrigglesworth was given the opportunity to captain the side.

KEVIN Renecke showed his class for Boisdale-Briagolong in their win over Collegians.

The big hitting South African clubbed 66 from 53 balls on the Briagolong turf, hitting six balls into the rope and two over it.

He was ably supported by Dylan Bolton, who also hit two bombs in his unbeaten 32 off 27 balls to see the Saints finish 3/139.

Somewhat eerily, Boisdale-Briagolong and Collegians again found themselves in a pulsating finish, following a three-run margin in a two day game just a fortnight ago.

While that result went to Collegians, this one went to Boisdale-Briagolong, who held off their opponents by six runs.

Time and wickets combined to create a negative equation for the visitors, who ended up 9/133 after 20 overs.

Nathan Whitford smashed 29 at the top of the order off just 16 balls, and like Renecke and Bolton earlier in the night, also cleared the boundary twice.

Nathan Giove noodled them around for 25, but in the end, the Saints found enough dot balls and ones to keep things in their favour.

Ed Phelan-Penson took 3/7 and Jonny Lash 2/21.

Lash previously played for Boisdale-Briagolong, and is playing the T20s as a marquee player.

SMCA clubs are permitted to draft in players from outside of the association for T20 games.

POOL 2 saw victories go the way of Maffra and Rosedale-Kilmany.

The Eagles grinded out a low-scoring win against Stratford at Cameron Sporting Complex.

Bowling first, the home side found success, and had the Redbacks 3/21 early in the piece.

Stratford past player Tom Wrigglesworth (on loan from Victorian Premier Cricket) steadied things with 25 off 39 balls, but was the only player in the top six to reach double figures.

The Redbacks also had Meerlieu captain Rohan Blandford playing.

Stratford was bowled out in the last over having made just 85. Wickets were shared in the Maffra camp, with Jack Kelly taking 3/6, Jake Pendrick 2/12 and David Griffiths 2/14.

Maffra took the chase deep, and eventually got home in the penultimate over with nine balls to spare.

The Eagles opted for a low-risk approach, and only lost four wickets on the run home.

Chris Lawrence batted through the innings and made an unbeaten 47 off 56 balls.

Stratford captain Jack Rietschel returned crazy figures for a T20, taking 3/7 off four overs with two maidens.

ROSEDALE-KILMANY was far too good for Wurruck.

The Warriors batted first at home, and made a huge score close to 200.

Dylan Rowley fell just short of what would have been a memorable hundred, with time ending up being his enemy as he was stranded on 98 not out.

Rowley well and truly had a day out, smoking a remarkable seven sixes and six fours during his innings.

Combining with Rowley was Drew Owen, who made 46 in a 137-run partnership for the third wicket.

Wurruk had a demoralising time in the field, as only two bowlers were able to go at just over a run-a-ball.

Having made 197, the Warriors were never in danger of losing, and so it proved as the Toads just got past triple figures, ending the game 9/104.

Warren Breddels, Ash Vogt and Aiden Andrews all made 20s, but their efforts fell some distance short of matching Rowley and Owen.

Rosedale-Kilmany completed a virtually perfect game with Bailey Reid and Kai Snape each taking four wickets.

Reid gave hardly anything away with 4/8 off four overs, while Snape took 4/21.