Exies has taken out the battle at the top of the first-grade ladder after their timed game against Diggers at Exies No 2.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Diggers looked to get off to a good start through openers Dom Brown and Ben Watts.
The pair were able to get the score to 32 before Watts (22) fell in unfortunate circumstances after hitting his wicket with captain Theo Valeri (2) falling to Marc Tucker (2/35).
When Brown (4) and Jason Hampel (11) were dismissed by Andrew Arnold (3/44) Diggers were in a precarious position of 4/47.
Trevor Richards (15) and Tom Valeri (16) gave their side a chance with a foundation building a 34-run partnership, but both fell in quick succession with Arnold dismissing Richards while Jamie Winkler picked up Valeri.
Lower order contributions from Nicola Harbison (10) and Luke Peruzzi (13) helped the side get passed the 100 mark and onwards.
When both were dismissed, Craig Lugton (17) provided some late runs before Joel Mulder (2/6) took the final two wickets to see Diggers innings close on 141 off 41.3.
Exies made a similar start with Phil Burge and Winkler able to lay the foundation for their side to build on with an opening stand of 33.
When Winkler (2) and Burge (14) fell to the bowling of Lugton (3/28) and Dean Villata (1/35) respectively it fell to Tom Spry and last week’s top performer Alistair Burge to keep the runs ticking over.
However, after putting on 11 runs, Alistair Burge (9) became Lugton second victim while Tom Burge (4) following close behind.
With the score on 61, Exies needed a partnership to help push them towards the first innings points. With Spry and Duane Ashcroft they found what they were looking for as the pair put on 30-runs to get the side to 91 before Ashcroft (4) was dismissed by Luke Peruzzi (1/8).
When Spry (61) was finally dismissed by Theo Valeri (3/34), Arnold kept the score moving forward with Joel Mulder (6) before he became Valeri’s second victim.
Marc Tucker (8) joined Arnold (8*) with six runs needed to pick up the first innings points and the pair steered their side to the points with three wickets in hand.