Simon Keen returned for the first week of a month-long cameo, Dominic Symonds claimed career-best figures of 6-14 and four wickets fell in the space of six deliveries as Belmont breezed past hosts University in the Newcastle District Cricket Association season opener on Saturday.
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Former Big Bash League and NSW Country representative Keen, playing at Belmont until the Central Coast competition starts next month, scored 34 not out at the top of the order after off-spinner Symonds helped clean up the Sea Dragons for just 76 at University Oval.
Experienced pace duo Jace Lawson and Dan Bailey produced a game-changing period where the Students went from 0-23 to 4-23, featuring the scalps of captain Andrew Harriott (5), No.3 Joseph Hart (0), Indian import Varun Sharma (0) and Tamworth fill-in Simon Norvill (16) in quick succession.
Belmont then reached the target two wickets down in 9.3 overs to make light work of the one-day encounter.
"There's a good energy around the place and a good vibe, but I didn't expect to roll them the way we did," Belmont captain Marcus Hainsworth said.
Keen is set to play a major part in Belmont's Tom Locker Cup campaign before returning to regular club Warnervale.
The all-rounder, also Vanuatu's national coach, delivered a match-winning performance in a one-off appearance for Belmont in the corresponding round two seasons ago and has previously played T20 Summer Bash for the Whips.
"It's a luxury to have him for a little while to be honest," Hainsworth said.
Symonds, who only turned to tweak from medium pace at the end of last summer, took the last six wickets of the innings. He was brought on just before drinks and finished off with a spell of 3-0 after Uni had been 7-76.
Earlier and Lawson (3-18) narrowly missed a hat-trick when a leg before shout was turned down but bounced back immediately to collect three wickets in four balls. Straight up next over Bailey (1-19) had a catch dropped at fine leg before securing another scalp.
Elsewhere in Saturday's first-round fixtures, opening bowlers Jeremy Nunan (3-30) and Brad Aldous (4-26) did most of the damage as Wests dismissed Merewether for 172 at Townson Oval before the Rosellas reeled in the required runs just four wickets down in the 35th over.
Daniel Chillingworth made 62 as Charlestown posted 9-201 at Kahibah Oval before knocking over Cardiff-Boolaroo for 103, featuring a combined seven wickets for Parth Shah (4-26) and Isaac Wallace (3-30).
Stockton and Northern Districts (139) fell 45 runs short of Toronto (7-184) at Ron Hill Oval as Kookaburras skipper Adrian Chad (66, 3-12) led the way with both bat and ball.
Waratah-Mayfield (7-231) beat Newcastle City (8-184) by 47 runs at Learmonth Park with half-centuries to Jonty Durrheim (56) and Josh Hardy (50) helping lay the platform for the visitors.
Wallsend and hamilton-Wickham were due to meet at Ron Hill Oval on Sunday.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
