Bundoora needs 204 to get off the mark and off the foot of the Barclay Shield table after a persistent bowling effort against Research/Eltham Collegians on Saturday.
The 0-2 Bulls bowled out REC for 203 in the final over of the first day’s play at Yulong Park in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association on Saturday.
REC looked on track for a bigger total when Craig Whelan (51) and Josh Turner (39) pushed the score to 1-105.
PICTURE GALLERY: Bundoora v Research/Eltham Collegians
But Ryan Eley’s capture of Whelan led to steady wickets for the rest of the innings.
Jason Kaminski (5-44) hollowed out REC’s middle order, while Shupinder Taggar (2-29) and Stuart Adams (2-64) were other multiple wicket-takers.
At Epping, the home team conceded first-innings points within the first day against visiting Diamond Creek.
John Lever (39) was the only batsman past 20 as Epping was all out for 83 by the 42nd over after winning the toss and batting.
Diamond Creek made a shaky start to be 3-11 but reached 5-84 off 34 overs before declaring.
Epping survived four overs before stumps and will resume its second dig at 0-24 on Saturday.
Old Paradians-St Francis kept the run rate down as Macleod made 192 off its 80 overs at Garvey Oval. Damian Wegener (3-26) and Robert Thomas (3-52) were best of the Paradians’ bowlers.
Around the division, Lower Eltham set 187 against North Eltham Wanderers, Plenty (212) has Mernda 1-13 in reply and Rosanna made 8-263 against Riverside.
In Money Shield, Camrea Taipans’ Dhushanta Ranatunga made 89 to steer his team to 246 all out against Banyule. A late wicket means Banyule will resume at 1-4 on Saturday.
Lower Plenty’s Trent Rapp made 111 not out and combined in a 124-run partnership with Ray Kelsey (76) to leave Lalor Stars needing 279 for victory this weekend.
South Morang will chase 276 to win after Eltham posted 6-275 and Bundoora United also has a big chase on its hands as visiting Heidelberg posted 9-258 at Loyola Reserve.
Elsewhere in the division, North Eltham Wanderers (171) has Hurstbridge 3-72 in reply, while Greensborough posted 7-268 against Montmorency.
In B-grade, Thomastown United’s last pair, Steve Lucca (37) and Stan Apostola (26no), turned a modest total into 219 against Bundoora. Pirathees Sritharan had earlier top scored with 53 as United sank to 9-155 before the big last-wicket stand.
Whittlesea is within reach of victory against Eltham already after bowling out the home team at Eltham Central Park.
Mitch McAuley (3-35) and Rajitha Mendis (3-27) restricted Eltham to 125 all out, before McAuley (41no) and Tharindu Thusan (31no) guided Whittlesea to 2-100 by stumps.
Mill Park (95) conceded first innings points to Diamond Creek (7-104), Lower Eltham made 203 against Mernda (0-10), Rosanna posted 267 against Riverside and Panton Hill made 258 against Macleod (0-2).
