Waurn Ponds Deakin holds the upper hand going into day two of its Geelong Cricket Association Division 3 clash against Corio.
With Manifold Heights (5th) a strong chance to lose against bottom team Bannockburn, the Eagles can jump into the four if they beat fourth-placed Corio.
Waurn Ponds Deakin skipper Nick Phillips won the toss and sent the Devils, which proved to be the correct decision.
Corio was bowled out for 121 with only Ty Watts (52 off 121 deliveries) and Joel Stacey (21 off 75) spending a decent amount of time at the crease.
Dhanuja Haturusingha took 5/30 while Zarbakht Asim snared three wickets and Tom Carroll two for the Eagles.
“The pitch was a bit green and a little bit softer than what we’ve usually seen out there,” Phillips said.
“So I thought we’d give our bowlers the best chance at it and it paid off. He’s (Haturusingha) our experienced bowler at the top and he stayed on his line all day. And then Tom Carroll probably took the two big wickets early. All five of the bowlers bowled exceptionally well and to our plan perfectly.”
Waurn Ponds Deakin then had 24 overs to negotiate before stumps and emerged at 2/55 still requiring 67 runs to win.
Philips remains at the crease on 15 and Jonathon Thomson is on 18.
Phillips said there was still a lot of work to do to reach the 122 required for victory.
“We just need to concentrate on getting the job done and just start with our batting group, sort of stepping up and being selfish almost and wanting to make the runs yourself and not leaving it to anyone else,” he said.
“The strategy for us is just get the runs as little down as possible. If Jon and I can do it, great. If it takes 40 or 50 overs then we’re more than happy with that.”
Phillips said his side has a deep batting line-up.
“I honestly think we probably bat to 11,” he said.
“Our number 10 last week top scored and the number 11 has opened the batting at our club.”
Phillips said he respected Corio’s bowling attack with its spinners posing a threat on day two while seamers Mitch and Anthony Grace and Trey Laurie presented a different challenge.
ALEXANDER THOMSON will resume at 1/15 in pursuit of Marshall’s 169 all out. Angus Cranny did most of the damage with the ball with 4/28 while opener Philip Lang made 57 for the Bears.
JACKSON Burke spearheaded Thomson’s 206 all out with a superb 96 from 176 deliveries while Modewarre skipper Brandon Ross took 3/43 from 19 overs and Dylan Ryan conceded just 41 from almost 26 overs.
BANNOCKBURN appears on track for a win and will resume at 1/63 chasing Manifold Heights’ 117 all out. Mitch Bartlett (63) made more than half of his team’s runs while all five Banno bowlers had success. Harry Vivian (35 not out) was set at the crease when stumps were pulled.
