After four wins in a row against lower-placed opponents, Epping has claimed the biggest scalp of all – Plenty’s – in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association’s Barclay Shield.
It was an emphatic win for Epping, which now looks set for a finals berth.
That seemed unlikely five rounds ago, but Epping is now fourth on the ladder, two points clear of Riverside and Rosanna with a round remaining.
Against Plenty, Epping’s bowlers followed up what its batsmen had done on day one.
Plenty resumed at 2-13, chasing 205.
John Green, at number three, and Chris Villani (No. 10) were the only batsmen to mount resistance to Epping’s attack.
Green’s 32 was top score for Plenty, which fell for 111, well short of victory.
Billy McKeown got four wickets for Epping, with John Lever grabbing three.
With the loss, Plenty’s lead at the top of the ladder has been reduced to two points.
In the final round, Epping plays Old Paradians/St Francis, which lost by 102 runs to Riverside on Saturday.
Chasing 189, Old Paradians/St Francis was skittled for just 87. Opener Rheece Lewis was the only batsman to show fight, with 41.
Bundoora defeated Bundoora United with two wickets in hand.
United made 138 in its first innings and had Bundoora in trouble early at 3-9. Bundoora’s lower order, though, did the job to get them over the line, finishing at 8-139. Shupinder Taggar top-scored for Bundoora with 47, while Umar Razaq took six wickets for United.
In the Money Shield, there’s a three-way race for a top-two spot.
Lalor Stars, Eltham and Mernda can all still finish top three with a round remaining.
The Stars jumped to the top of the table with an outright win over Hurstbridge. After making 7-337 in reply to Hurstbridge’s 70, the Stars bowled them out a second time for 57.
Aaron Amos starred with the ball in the second innings with 5-29.
Mernda also had an outright win against Lower Plenty. Declaring at its day-one score of 2-281, Mernda bowled Lower Plenty out for 165 in its second innings with Justin Stewart taking six wickets.
The match between Mill Park and Heidelberg was called a draw with Mill Park needing only one wicket for first innings points.
