Panthers pounce on day one
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Two-day cricket returned this week as some sides look to bounce back from indifferent starts to the season, as others look to keep the good times rolling.
And while we will have to wait until next week to see how these results pan out, one couldn't deny the quality cricket on display as the best look to separate themselves from the rest.
Division 1
Longwarry v Yarragon
A fine bowling performance from Yarragon has seen them into a strong position to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive.
Bowling first against division one new boys Longwarry, Laytten Smith was in rare form early in the day as he removed the top three singlehandedly, including the dangerous Yashan Samarasinghe (10) cheaply.
After being rescued by the lower order last week, the Crows were required to climb back out of a hole again as Smith (5-53) and Lahiru Jayakody (3-16) caused another mini-collapse around the drinks break to leave the home side wallowing at 6-46.
Youngster Daniel Pullen (21) was able to hold the innings together for a period, before John Langley (38) was able to launch a counterattack like Shayne Gillings last week, as the score reached beyond triple figures.
Young gun Liam Smith-Butterworth (2-10) was able to drag Yarragon back on top late, as Longwarry's lower order finally caved away and they were all out for 123, giving the Panthers 23 overs to dig in until the end of the day.
In reply, the Crows were able to fight their way into the contest with the ball. Daniel Waite (2-4) claimed a couple of early scalps, and at one point Yarragon slipped to 3-26. However, the key for the visitors was who was at the crease to survive the rest of the day. Danger men Jayakody (20*) and Kusan Ranasinghe (15) reached stumps intact with the score at 3-48, setting up a crucial first hour next week.
Drouin v Western Park
After a shock loss last week, Drouin bounced back in a competitive day against arch-rivals Western Park on the weekend.
Losing the toss and fielding on a pitch that offered a little bit for both bat and ball, the Warriors took the early ascendency as the most productive opening pairing in the competition - Jack Armour and Sanjaya Gangodawila - continued their form against the new Kookaburra.
Harry McConnell (2-43) got the much-needed breakthrough of Gangodawila (16) to turn the match on its head, as Armour (12), Sam Batson (0) and Damien Lawrence (11) followed soon after with Trevor Gardiner (3-23) enjoying a continued rebirth with the ball.
The Hawks continued to pile on the pressure against Western Park's underdone middle order as Jason Croft (15) grinded for the umpteenth time against his nemesis. He and young gun Patrick Ireland (37) were able to crawl the score forward, adding 44 as the match settled into an arm wrestle.
Debutant Kurtis Harper continued the momentum with a brisk 18, while Ellis Whiteford (19) looked rusty but effective as Western Park reached 7-118 by the second drinks break.
Brad Glover (2-32) and Simon Gardiner (227) were making the old ball swing, leading to fears from the visitors' camp that they would have to bowl for an extended period on the first day, however, Zane Harper (32) produced his best innings in some time to push the first innings into the twilight hours. He and Ireland were the difference between a poor and decent day for the Park, as they were eventually dismissed for 175 - the two sides going into the dressing room sore, but ultimately positive about their chances going into next week.
Ellinbank v Catani
Ellinbank celebrated the return of two-day cricket in sensational style on the weekend, their first victory of the season needing just several hours of play.
Losing the toss and fielding, the Eagles would ultimately make Catani pay for their decision to bat as the premiers flexed their muscle and ran riot with the ball. Sean Masterson (4-22) got the party started with an inspired early spell, and he was helped by new ball partner Tom Robertson (2-17) who bowled with serious pace to shake the Cats early.
None of the top order would reach double figures apart from James Vela, who held the innings together as a procession of batsmen came and went around him. Despite batting at four, he was forced to take the long-handle relatively early as Catani tried desperately to reach tea. Jeremy Gray (3-14) made sure that didn't happen, as he cleaned up the tail and Vela, who provided all but 21 runs off the bat, with the Cats crumbling to just 75 all out on the stroke of tea.
In reply, Ellinbank were looking beyond the crucial six points as they aimed to set up the match for an outright victory next week.
Matt Brewer (25) took the attack to the bowling early in a boundary-laden knock, as Matt Farthing (35) continued his fine form with a controlled knock down the other end. The score was passed with ease, however, Daniel Pandolfo (39*) and Sean Masterson (11*) ensured that there was more to play for next week as Ellinbank reached 3-126 by the end of the day's play.
Neerim District v Hallora
Neerim District have given themselves a chance at a boilover next week, as Kody Wilson produced a career-best spell to position the match on a knife's edge.
Winning the toss and batting, Hallora started well in a rematch of the last two-day grand final as Brett Williams (24) and Brayden Notman (17) saw off the new ball. Fraser Duncan (14) got a start as the Kangas reached 1-53, but Wilson was warming into his work for Neerim - several quick wickets from him spurred a collapse of 4-18 to leave Hallora hanging by a thread at 5-71.
Brett Watkins (24) attempted to repair the innings but was a victim of former keeper Rhys George (1-10), but it was another lower-order batsman in Aidan Phillips who launched a long-ranged counterattack. The left-arm quick took his preferred aerial route in a blistering knock of 50, hitting four maximums as the Stags stuttered and Hallora looked to push onwards towards 200 as the favourites flexed their muscle.
It was up to Wilson again to stop the bleeding - and he did more than that - as another stunning spell caused another collapse at the back end of the innings with the metronomic right-armer finishing with outstanding figures of 7-40 for his work.
Hallora would be all out for a par score of 176 - a total reduced slightly as the Stags reached stumps unblemished at 0-7, setting up an intriguing chase next week.