CRICKET: Proserpine cricket players hit the pitch for the first time this year on Saturday as Valleys notched up a close win against Warriors.

A swarm of bees couldn't stop the action on the Kelsey Creek grounds for long, as players had to momentarily drop and wait for the bugs to pass before resuming the match.

Valleys won the toss and elected to bat first on a ground still damp from recent rains - and this meant runs would have to be earned, with many shots failing to reach the boundary.

Valleys did not get off to the best of starts, with Warriors veteran Shane Knight (2/33) making the early breakthroughs to see Valleys teetering on 2/15.

Opening batsman Scott Hardy (72) made the most of an early dropped catch to again lead Valleys' revival.

He was joined at the crease by Mike Hope (60), with the pair putting on a 109-run partnership before Hardy attempted one too many runs to be run out.

Warriors youngster Howard McDonald (2/12) backed up his national javelin win to take two important wickets to halt Valleys' innings.

Adrian Maxwell (14 not out) and Wayne Lane (13 not out) saw out the rest of the innings, with their late partnership pushing Valleys to a strong total of 6/193.

Warriors captain and opening batsman Bryce Fraser (77) again led by example on the bat, with himself and Valleys opener Hardy cementing themselves as this season's premier batsmen.

However, Fraser was running out of batting partners as Hope (3/18) tore through the middle order in a display that included three maiden overs.

Shane Knight (40) backed up his bowling efforts to play a great supporting role to Fraser, with the pair knocking out a 50-run partnership to put Warriors back in the hunt.

With the run-rate creeping higher, Warriors had no choice but to attack.

Adrian Maxwell (2/16) and youngster Cooper Lane (2/39) took advantage of Warriors' flirtatious stroke play by teaming up to bowl Warriors out for 171.

This Saturday, Warriors take on Canecutters from 12.30pm at the Proserpine Sporting Complex.

New or returning players are welcome as all teams are looking for players.

For further information, phone club president Craig Brown on 49451983 or visit the Proserpine Cricket Association page on Facebook.