Division 4
Round five of Warragul District Cricket Association action kicked off in pleasant conditions at the weekend with a mixed bag of results across the board.
Drouin fought back late in its clash with Warragul to set a defendable target.
Longwarry has a tricky chase ahead after losing three wickets before the close of play while both Jindivick sides look set to take the points after dismissing their opposition cheaply on day one.
Rivals clash
Drouin 9/219 vs Warragul Traditional rivals Drouin and Warragul met in an entertaining contest at Drouin’s Bellbird Park No.2 Oval.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first the Hawks got away to a flying with a 68-run opening stand.
Adin Short’ dismissal (after a blistering 42) triggered a minor collapse that saw the home side lose 4/14.
Dan Perret (on the back of an impressive spell the week before) was in the thick of it snaring 2/36, along with Paul Singh who toiled through 20 overs (seven of which were maidens) to finish with 2/34.
A further two wickets to Gulls skipper Cam Smith (2/23) left Drouin reeling at 6/109 before a steadying partnership got the scoreboard ticking over again.
Jacob Sandman (26) offered firm resistance on the way to posting his highest score in senior cricket before another collapse of 3/6 left the Hawks in a precarious position at 9/148.
Harrison Forwood and Damon Healy (in a rare appearance in the lower grades) rallied for their side with an unbeaten 71-run last wicket stand shepherding the Hawks through to stumps.
Forwood finished with a career best score of 40 not out while Healy chimed in with an invaluable 28 not out.
There was one other multiple wicket taker with Austin Williamson (2/19) snaring his first wicket at senior level.
Bowlers dominate
Ellinbank 10/68 vs Jindivick Gold 0/37 A strong bowling performance from Jindivick Gold has given them the upper hand going into day of two of its clash with Ellinbank.
Choosing to bat first the Eagles were in trouble early as Mick Gnaden (2/30) homed in to snare the big scalps of Stuart Davis and James Scammell.
Opening partner Jeremy Hill (2/12) struck next, reducing the home side to 4/39.
Tim Jeffrey and Toby Hart tightened the screws through the middle overs as the runs all but dried up.
Jeffrey was the pick of the bowlers finishing with the barely believable figures of 3/9 off 16 overs which included nine maidens.
Jason Helps was the best of the batsmen, top