Bundoora is in a dominant position against Mernda after day one of the DVCA Barclay Shield’s battle of winless teams at Mernda Recreation Reserve.
Bundoora rode a mini-slump in the early afternoon to bat out its 80 overs and post 259 all out.
Jason Nicholas (34) and Nathan Andrews (36) pushed the score to 1-72 before a 3-7 slump left Bundoora at 4-79.
But Andrew Fairchild (76) and Harjinder Singh Chalal (54) stopped the rot with a 99-run stand for the fifth wicket, which ended when Chalal was run out.
Fairchild and Adam Sing (36) then put on 63 before the race for quick runs at the end of the 80 overs meant the last five wickets fell for just 18. Stuart Wright (4-48) was Mernda’s only multiple wicket-taker.
At Plenty Park, visitors Epping were all out by the 65th over for 170. Simon Reid (42) and John Lever (39) were top scorers in an innings where Epping struggled to sustain partnerships.
Plenty was 2-61 by stumps in reply. John Green (3-44) was best of the Plenty bowlers and then blazed 50 with the bat.
Old Paradians-St Francis struggled to 134 all out against Rosanna, with Rosanna reaching 1-53 by stumps in reply.
In other matches, Macleod posted 7-272 for Lower Eltham to chase, Diamond Creek made 6-321 against Riverside while Research/Eltham Collegians (3-134) already has first-innings points won against North Eltham Wanderers (127).
In Money Shield, Bundoora United is closing in on first-innings points against Camrea Taipans.
Dhushanta Ranatunga (52) was the only resistance as the Taipans were all out 90 at Loyola Reserve, Grant Fraser (5-24) and Scott Barnett (4-24) sharing the wickets.
United reached 4-80 in reply by stumps.
At Hurstbridge, Lalor Stars stumbled to 7-133 but recovered to bat out the 80 overs.
Aaron Amos (33) and Wayne Dow (40no) steadied before Dow and Alex Manoilovski (26) shared a 52-run stand for the ninth wicket. Stars ultimately finished with 9-229.
In B-grade, Whittlesea’s Joshua Nixon took 5-43 in 20 overs as Macleod second XI made 173 all out. Whittlesea was 0-35 at stumps.
Thomastown United’s Justin D’Avoine (3-35) and Steve Lucca (3-48) were best of the bowlers as United dismissed Mernda second XI for 171. United is already well advanced in the chase, 1-61 at stumps.
