The Coro Cougars have taken top spot in the first-grade standings after a 96-run win over Exies Eagles under lights at Exies Oval on Saturday evening.
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After winning the toss and electing to bat, Coro got to 10 before Mitchell Williams-Hedges (7) was dismissed by Eagles captain Andrew Arnold (1/50).
Coro captain Haydn Pascoe joined Tim Rand, and the pair went about laying the foundation with a 39-run stand before Rand (10) became the first of Jamie Winkler's victims.
Rob Rand help to add 13 runs with Pascoe before Rob Rand (12) was caught behind off the bowling of Winkler while Angus Boulton (8) fell to the bowling of Pavan Cherupalli (1/24) nine runs later to see the Cougars sitting on 4/71 after 24 overs.
Signor (4) chipped in with 19-run stand with Pascoe before he became Winkler's (3/69) third victim of the day, but the fall of the talented youngest brought Damien Walker to the crease.
As Pascoe passed his fifty and looked destined to reach three figures, the sixth-wicket pairing were able to put the scoreboard pressure on with an 80-run partnership before Pascoe (89) was run out just short of his ground to deny him his hundred.
The Cougars batted for another five overs after the dismissal of Pascoe with Walker (51*) able to post his half-century before the Coro side declared on 6/204 after 45 overs.
The Eagles were left with two scenarios, chase down the massive total in the remaining 40 overs or bat out the overs and score above 4.5 runs per over to take the winning draw.
The case didn't get off the best start with Alex Flood able to make an immediate impact with the ball as he dismissed Winkler (0) with the fourth ball of the innings.
Phil Burge and Dan Brady were given the task of rebuilding their side's innings and got the score to 24 before Pascoe caught Burge off the bowling of Flood.
Ben Signor picked up the wicket of Travers Pickmere (4) while Flood continued his good form with the dismissal of Brady (14).
Tom Spry and Hayden Forner tried to get their side back on track and were able to get their team to 51 before Flood took his fourth as he found his way through the defences of Tom Spry (4).
Two wickets in the space of 11 runs saw Flood (6/43) complete his five-wicket haul with the wickets of Forner (14) and Craig Burge (7) to see the Exies side sitting on 7/73 after 25.4 overs.
The experienced pairing of Marc Tucker and Arnold put on 28 runs to get their side past the 100-mark before Jack Hutchinson (1/17) picked up the wicket of Arnold (14) while Shane Hutchinson (1/0) took the wicket of Tucker (11) saw Exies fall to 9/102.
Connor Bock and Cherupalli scored six runs for the final wicket with Signor (2/18) making the final breakthrough to see Coro take the 12 points.
The Cougars are now two points clear at the top of the table and take on Leagues next weekend.
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