Fightback from Lyrebirds
Division one:
A resilient fightback from Buln Buln created a tense encounter with rivals Drouin.
Batting first on a relatively lush Buln outfield, Drouin took the upper hand early through club legend Simon Gardiner. The pacer removed anchor Jack Armour (13) and Lachie Jagoe (6) early to set the tone with the ball.
Recruit Matt Mitchell was joined by Englishmen Kam Collins, as the pair made the most of their opportunity, adding 52 for the third wicket, before Collins (23) fell for his best contribution of the season. Former Drouin junior Harry Wans (0) fell soon after, as Wilson Pollock (4) became Gardiner's third victim and left the Lyrebirds struggling at 5-82.
However, as has been the case for several years, Buln's experienced men corrected the ship. With Mitchell showing his class at the other end, Eastwell (18) batted in support for another 50-run stand to ensure Drouin were forced to defend.
Coach Corey Jagoe strode to the crease once Eastwell had been removed by Sam Van Der Zalm (2-33), as the generally monotonous pace of the game suddenly accelerated. Jagoe bashed boundaries from ball one to put the pressure back on the Hawks.
Mitchell (75) was finally removed short of his maiden century, before Gardiner (4-54) and Brad Glover (3-36) removed a fragile tail in quick time, Jagoe (41) the last to fall as Buln made a competitive 192.
With three nervy overs to bat, Paul Timewell and Malcolm Dow got through unscathed, with Drouin facing a tricky chase on Saturday.
An electrifying spell from devastating quick Sam Batson has given Western Park a tight day one victory over division one new boys Garfield-Tynong.
Bowling first on a pace-bowler’s haven, Western Park got straight to work, as Batson took the wickets of Matthew Dodman (1) and Brayden Ridler (8) early, granting keeper Zane Harper two simple catches.
AK Tyrone (19) and division one debutant Isaac Braaksma (11) battled hard to take the shine off the ball. But both were dismissed in a matter of minutes, with two more catches behind the wicket.
Nick Bransgrove (0), Grant Pearson (0) and Dean Henwood (2) all fell cheaply to Batson who was beginning to generate serious pace, as the away side crumbled to 7-46 as a rout seemed likely.
However, Stephen Shields (33) and Sean Somers (11) battled back, attacking the spin of Asantha Singappuli and Liam O'Connor. They put away boundaries with ease to wrestle their way into the contest.
Somers eventually fell to O'Connor, before Chad McKie (5) and Shields (33) ultimately fell to Batson as Garfield-Tynong were all out for 98 at tea. Batson ended with a remarkable 835, the best in the division since Chris Perry's nine-wicket haul almost a decade ago.
In reply, the Warriors made a seemingly simple chase look difficult as batting woes shone.
Sanjaya Gangodawila (16) looked dangerous, but the tandem of Henwood (2-27) and AP Rangajith (2-41) proved too tough to handle for the Warriors top-order, as they slumped to 434. Things could've been worse for the home side, but Batson was let off the hook by a Henwood drop, and he and Leigh Diston (44) steadied the ship.
The pair pushed the score to 70 and out of relative danger, with Diston and Adrian Parker (18) providing the finishing touches for the win.
The Warriors finished the day in a strong position at 7-119 with an intriguing day of cricket to come on Saturday.
Only a miniscule chance of rain will foil a certain Neerim victory on the weekend, as they sounded a warning to the rest of the competition with the ball at home.
Losing the toss and bowling, the Stags wasted no time getting to work, as the much-improved Matt Kelliher removed Matt Farthing (0) early to put Ellinbank on the back foot. Things went from bad to worse for the Eagles, as Dane Fawcett took the scalps of both Troy Ferguson (12) and Ben Spicer (10) with the score 3-26.
Nick Fairbank (17) and Daniel Pandolfo (30) attempted to resuscitate the innings. However, Fairbank ran into a rampant Kody Wilson, who first took his wicket before Sean Masterson (0) and Matthew Barrand (3) fell soon after, as the medium pacer claimed figures of 3-29.
Toby Bayne then entered the party, outlining Neerim's depth. The big, bustling quick took Pandolfo and Gihan De Zoysa's scalps, as Ellinbank were threatened with being bowled out before tea.
A 24-run last wicket stand from Bryce Joyce (10) and Jack Pandolfo (12*) saved face to an extent, however, Ellinbank's total of 105 was never going to be enough.
In reply, Nathan Bayne (11) went on the attack early with little success, before Rhys George and Ash Lockett (25 each) attempted to win the match on the first day.
Two quick wickets to Masterson (2-44) had the Stags' hearts beating a little faster at 3-42, however, from there they weren't troubled, as Dave Ferguson (23*) and Dane Fawcett (13*) guided them to stumps just eight shy of victory. A second win on the trot all but assured for Neerim.
A resolute fightback from Hallora's tail saw them reach a very defendable total in the clash against fellow premiership favourites Yarragon.
Winning the toss and batting, Hallora lost Malinga Surappulige (0) and Brett Williams (5) to the new ball bowling of Lahiru Jayakody (239), before Jai Newcombe (16) and the obdurate Fraser Duncan fought back.
Newcombe looked in good touch before Ishan Ratnayake struck, bringing Natsai M'Shangwe to the crease. He and Duncan provided a good juxtaposition of attack and defence, as the pair added 58 to put the Kangas in a solid position.
Just before tea, the situation took a drastic turn with Hallora losing 3-1, as Duncan (33) was trapped in front by Ratanayake, who took the wicket of Sam Whibley (0) soon after. Gamini Kumara removed fellow star M'Shangwe (32) to have the Kangas reeling.
As is so often the case with the experienced and dogged Hallora side, the tail wagged when the top order failed as Aidan Phillips (13) batted time to stave off the pressure. Lachie Pratt (21) also provided resistance to push Hallora to 9-158 late in the day.
Gamini Kumara (3-49) used the swinging conditions to his favour, with the cricketer of the decade stamping his authority to put Yarragon on the brink of resigning Hallora to an under-par score. However, an unlikely source - all-rounder Grant Duncan - came to his side's rescue. The wizard from Hallora showed his underrated class with a critical 37 not out to push Hallora to 9-194, a score which will provide a pre-Christmas thriller.