THE new cricket season got underway on Sunday February 8, with Supercats taking the first victory in a bowler-dominated contest against Luckstars.

Sunday's match at Freedom Square, the first in the 10-game Mike Holmes Memorial Tournament, began with a one-minute silence in memory of Mike Holmes, a prominent member of the Seychelles Cricket Association who passed away in 2002.

Winning the toss, Luckstars' captain Bertrum Senaratne sent his opponents in to bat and opened his bowling with Roshan and Horpinitch.

Roshan set the early pace, taking the first two wickets of the 'Stars' captain Arup Das and fellow opener Anand, for a combined 6 runs.

Third man in, and 2003 player of the year Deepak Kerji, however, proved harder to dislodge.

Horpinitch dismissed fourth man Vijay for 2, but this brought in Suresh, who played his way to 18, providing a reliable partner for Kerji, who was batting towards the day's top score of 47.

Suresh was stopped by a Seneratne delivery, caught by Muditha, but after the wobble of Hitesh's cheap wicket, Deva came to the crease to continue to partner Kerji.

Kerji was eventually nabbed by wicket keeper Pat Flynn, off Suranga, and Deva fell, for a useful 15, to a tasty caught and bowled by Roshan.

Jayesh shook the tail with a late 10, but the rest toppled easily, leaving the 'Cats all out for a respectable 112 of 24 overs.

Senaratne, Suranga and Roshan each took three wickets, with the captain leading the group, going for only 10 runs.

In reply, Luckstars opened with the experienced pairing of Flynn and Sulu, who got off to a solid start, both reaching double figures, before being stopped by Deva and Vijay respectively.

And having scented blood early on, Deva got stuck into the attack, hammering into Muditha and Horpinitch, who went for a duck and 5.

Captain Das clean-bowled Bandula for 6 and Kerji claimed the wicket of the tenacious Suranga, whose middles order 19 was Luckstars' batting highlight.

The rest of the innings crumbled, Deva picking up another two wickets, and even

captain Senaratne, who last season proved he was no mug with the bat, was unable to halt the slide, dismissed for one.

The innings ended with  Pathi run out, the 'Stars' on a disappointing 71, 41 short of the 'Cats' winning total.

With bowling figures of 5 for 14 Deva must have been hopeful of picking up the man-of-the-match award, but Kerji's solid 47 instead carried the judges' decision.

The next match will take place this coming Sunday at Freedom Square, where Mahe Kings will take on Vijay.