A STUNNING all-round performance from Kingower’s Jayden Leach has led his team to a big first-innings victory over reigning premiers Arnold in the first two-day match of the new Upper Loddon season.
Leach, who took a career-best 7-26 in the Redbacks’ first innings, made a sparkling 85 as Kingower raced to 7-249 off 48 overs in response to Arnold’s 104 all out.
Skipper Leach pressed for an outright win when Arnold batted again, but the Redbacks battled their way to 3-96 off 36 overs to avoid a heavier defeat.
Kingower resumed on Saturday at 1-33, and Leach and Will Deason quickly set about reining in their opponents’ total.
Deason made 48, and Kyle Simpson 32 as Kingower passed Arnold and kept up a cracking pace of more than five runs an over.
The score reached 3-208 before four wickets fell for just 14 runs. 
Blake Pickles steered the lower order to the final total of 249 with a composed 63 not out.
Ryan Metelmann took 4-47 off 12 overs for the Redbacks, while Ryan Balsley (1-79 off 13 overs) and Campbell Hancock (1-55 off eight overs) came in for some stick.
Leach couldn’t repeat his first innings heroics when Arnold batted again, going for 13 runs in his first over on the way to 0-29 off six. 
Metelmann put in his own all-round starring effort, making 57 after opening with skipper Henry McCullough as the Redbacks saved some face in their second innings.
Pickles took 2-13 off eight overs as Kingower used eight bowlers to try to winkle out the Redback batsmen.
Arnold plays Wedderburn in a T20 match on Saturday, while Kingower faces Boort Yando.