Bundoora moved off the foot of the Barclay Shield table despite losing by 66 runs against Research-Eltham Collegians on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 204, Bundoora never recovered from a middle-order collapse of 5-31 at Yulong Park and Shupinder Taggar’s 41 was the only score greater than 20 as the Bulls were all out for 137 in the 61st over.
Mernda replaced Bundoora on the bottom of the table on percentage after its 98 all out fell short of Plenty’s 212.
Elsewhere, Macleod made 192 and skittled Old Paradians-St Francis for 76 in reply, with John Bubis (38) the only batsman to make more than 10 for the losers.
There was an outright win at Epping, where visiting Diamond Creek got home by eight wickets.
Diamond Creek retired its first innings at 5-84 after passing Epping’s 83, before bowling out Epping a second time for 103.
Daniel Taylor’s unbeaten 50 got Diamond Creek to 2-104 off 20 overs to capture maximum points and outright top of the ladder.
Around the grounds, Lower Eltham (187) beat North Eltham Wanderers (113) and Rosanna (8-263) beat Riverside (107).
In Money Shield, Bundoora United lost by two runs to Heidelberg.
Chasing Heidelberg’s 258, Bundoora United lost 6-160 before Toby Johnston (49) and Scott Barnett (39) shared a 66-run partnership.
Johnston then batted with the tail to get Bundoora United to the final over, but was run out off the third-last ball of the match leaving United all out 256.
Camrea Taipans’ 246 was good enough to beat Banyule (100) with Chamidu Perera (4-34) and Ajay Sood (3-23) the best of the Taipans’ bowlers.
At Lower Plenty Park, Lalor Stars’ Steven Kemp (101no) guided a successful chase.
The Stars made 7-284 to beat Lower Plenty’s 8-278 with three wickets and 23 balls to spare.
Kemp shared a 68-run partnership with Steve Long (38) and 66 with Wayne Dow (37) as his knock took the Stars to victory.
South Morang (131) was no match for Eltham (6-275) while Montmorency (71 and 5-121) avoided outright defeat against Greensborough (7-268) and North Eltham Wanderers beat Hurstbridge by 15 runs.
In B-grade, Mill Park’s Anthony McFarland (51) and Aaron Mills (35) played a key role in staving off outright defeat against Diamond Creek second XI.
With a derficit of 85 on the first innings, the duo made key runs to stave off outright defeat as Mill Park reached stumps at 7-118.
Thomastown United improved its record to three wins from three, defending 219 by bowling out Bundoora second XI for 147.
Pirathees Sritharan (4-14) and Justin D’Avoine (3-37) were best of the Thomastown United bowlers.
Whittlesea also has three from three after comfortably chasing down Eltham’s 125.
Mitch McAuley (72) and Tharindu Thusan (45) top-scored as Whittlesea made 8-181 declared in reply.
Chasing quick wickets, Whittlesea could not set up a possible outright as Eltham survived 53 overs in its second innings to make 5-97.
