The Bullants batted first on day one and set the Blue Panthers 230 runs for victory.

The Rup-Minyip top order wasted no time chasing it down at the weekend as opener Dan Clark got them off to a quick start with 34 runs.

Newall made 70 before being caught by Greg Eldridge off the bowling of Jordan Huff.

Carter made the highest score of the day with 72 before being removed by Blackheath-Dimboola bowler Brendan Ward.

The combined 176 runs from Rup-Minyip’s top three batsmen took the pressure off the rest of the team, which pushed on to reach their target in only 53 overs.

Mat Combe was the best of the Bullants’ bowlers with 2-44 and was the only multiple wicket-taker for his side.

Huff, Ward, Jordan McDonald and Justtin Combe all claimed wickets, but the Noradjuha-Toolondo attack struggled to make inroads against a batting line-up which scored more than 4.5 runs an over.

The win keeps the Blue Panthers in second place, while the Bullants are clinging to third despite their loss.

Homers have extended their lead at the top of the ladder with an outright win over Colts.

The Pigeons’ bowling attack ran riot in the second innings at Dudley Cornell Park as Siphe Mzaidume, Simon Hopper and Chris Hopper each claimed three wickets.

Colts opener Dylan Arnott, 18, and Jason Kannar, 27, kept the runs flowing in the second innings but there were precious few runs to be found elsewhere in the line-up as the team was dismissed for 72.

The total gave them an aggregate of 209, matching Homers’ first-innings score and meaning the visitors needed only one run for an outright victory.

Mzaidume and Shannon Waterworth did the honours, making 14 before the close of play.

Mzaidume – who took a five-wicket haul for the match – said it was a great all-round performance by the side, which he labelled one of the best he had ever played in.

“We always went into the game with the intention of getting an outright win so we were a bit concerned because the wicket is pretty good for batting,” he said.

“We had our plan for how we wanted to go about it and it was fantastic to see how the guys executed that.

“I’m bowling in a pretty good attack with some fantastic players so it makes my job a bit easier.”

Mzaidume said the outright win gave his side more space at the top of the ladder and could be important insurance against player unavailability or weather delays later in the season.

Horsham Saints now own fourth place on the A Grade ladder after beating Jung Tigers at Coughlin Park.

The Saints’ 267-run total proved too high for the Tigers, who could only manage 173 in reply.

Peter Barnett was the best of the Jung batsmen with 42 runs, while Ben Sawyer and Thilan Kariyawasam each snared three wickets for the Saints.

It was a similar story at Dimboola Oval as Blackheath-Dimboola could not reach Laharum’s 248 runs.

Dan Mibus was the man for Laharum, taking five wickets to seal the 98-run win.

It is Laharum’s second win in a row after opening the season with four consecutive losses.