JUNG Tigers are looming as a genuine C Grade premiership contender after knocking off top team Natimuk-Goroke on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Tigers elected to bowl first at Dimboola Road oval, and it proved a good decision with the visitors' innings in tatters early at 7-37.
Jason Frost, Haydn Smith and Dallas Hobbs all chipped in with the ball for the Tigers, collecting two wickets each.
But Brent Tough played an important contribution for Natimuk-Goroke, an undefeated 47 carrying the side to 130.
In reply, Jung openers Darren Barnett and Greg Eagle got off to a promising start, before the Tigers stumbled to 4-55.
But skipper Ashley Wright, 47 not out, carried his side over the line with assistance from Jack McRae, 38 in an 84-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Wright said it was all starting to come together for his team, who are now second on the ladder.
"Our opening bowler really set it up and our catching early was pretty good," he said.
"It's always good to play well and beat the top side, especially when you let them get to 130."
"It's all coming along, we've got a pretty strong team on paper now."
At Taylors Lake, Noradjuha-Toolondo moved closer to the top four with a comfortable win against Horsham Saints.
Ross Frew top-scored with an even 50 for the Saints, as they were dismissed for 136, with Willy Hanson picking up 5-19.
The Bullants reached the total five wickets down, before finishing on 6-139 in the 27th over Mathew Ward the best of the batsmen with 47. Blackheath-Dimboola are just outside the top four after a big win against Laharum at home.
Bulls junior prospects Sam Polack and Trent McGough both took three wickets to help dismiss the Mountain Men for 149.
Undefeated half-centuries from Greg O'Connor, 69 not out, and Mick McGough, 51, saw the Bulls cruise to victory with 18 overs to spare.
At Holy Trinity Lutheran School, Homers bowled out Quantong for just 83, before an undefeated 50 from Ash Hopper saw the Pigeons home with eight wickets in hand.
A and B Grades
A and B Grade two-day matches were played Saturday and Sunday, with scores still coming in as the Mail-Times went to print.
In A Grade, Homers comfortably accounted for Horsham Saints at Coughlin Park after dismissing the home side for 112 on the opening day, while Noradjuha-Toolondo recorded an important win against Laharum defending 171 at Sunnyside.
Blackheath-Dimboola defeated Colts in a one-day match yesterday after the opening day's play was abandoned, while Jung Tigers couldn't chase down Rup-Minyip's 212 at city oval.
In B Grade, Lubeck-Murtoa scored 262 on the back of a Shaun Trotter century and defended that total against Horsham Saints, while Jung Tigers chased down Quantong's 147.
For a full wrap of the weekend's senior cricket, see the Mail-Times this week.