AFTER two rounds of cricket, Preston Valley remains unbeaten at the top of the ladder after completing a commanding 98-run victory over an improved Greenbushes-Balingup at Egan Park on Saturday afternoon.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Preston recovered well after losing an early wicket in a slightly misaligned batting line-up.

Dean Smith (43) found some form at the top of the order and, coupled with some early luck, set the tempo of the innings early on.

Star batsman Chris Atthowe (12) was undone by a Jacob Van Bavel jaffa, and Danny Hartnup (13) was well caught by Issac Wedderburn off his own bowling.

In-form batsman Wayne Clifford (41) then teamed up with skipper Shaun Gardiner (60) in a handy 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Gardiner brought up his second half-century for the season in style, with Clifford being stuck in the 40’s for the third time in the last 5five matches.

Richard Manea (18no) played a sterling hand at the tail-end, and youngster Joel Parker (1no) made his first runs in the senior side on debut; Preston finishing eight down for 221 after 45 overs.

The best bowlers for Greenbushes-Balingup were Troy Van Dimen (10-1-34-2) and Kai Hicks (9-0-53-2).

In reply, Greenbushes lost two early wickets before newcomer Neil Dovey and Troy Van Dimen (13) teamed up in a potentially strong partnership for the third wicket. Despite being dropped early, Dovey batted strongly in his first match for the club to give the visitors some hope. He eventually came unstuck after nicking one behind off Shaun Gardiner for a well earned 35.

Josh Buckley nabbed his first wicket off the dangerous Bob Taylor (5), before tail-enders Rob Van Bavel (19) and youngster Nat Wedderburn (17) put on 36-runs for the ninth wicket. With his first overs in senior cricket, Joel Parker bowled well to have both batsman stumped and bowled respectively, to cap off a stellar debut, as Greenbushes were bowled out for 124 in the 41st over.