The unbeaten Red Caps went into this penultimate home and away round with a firm grip on top position.

They can now be completely assured of the minor premiership — not only as a result of their own solid work.

Cole Roscholler hit 124 (8 fours, 3 sixes) to guide Wendouree to an imposing 8-278 against East Ballarat at the Wendouree Reserve.

Not even losing five overs to rain at the end of the opening day of the two-day encounter could dampen the performance.

Roscholler ensured Wendouree took a tight grip on the game.

While it was coasting along, the same could not be said for second-placed Napoleons-Sebastopol, which for the second round in a row crashed with the bat.

It managed just 79 against Darley, which is only nine runs away from securing first innings points.

Napoleons-Sebastopol will play finals, but has only a few weeks to get its season back on track.

In the meantime, Wendouree’s campaign could hardly be tracking better.

East Ballarat’s Brad Hallam dealt an early blow to dismiss the promoted Andrew Pitson cheaply.

Roscholler was to ensure Wendouree assumed control.

He put on 102 with Heath Pyke, 54 (6 fours, 1 six) for the third wicket and guided the total past 200.

His century made some amends for being run out two runs short of three figures late last year.

There were no other standout knocks, but Grant Bell, 22, kept the runs flowing.

Hallam, Peter Coulkbourne, Darcy Thomson and Zac Thorne each claimed two wickets for East Ballarat.

BALLARAT opens its Melbourne Country Week campaign against Geelong at Werribee’s Chirnside Park today.

BCA SQUAD: Matt Goonan (Mt Clear) captain, Jason Knowles, Matt McMahon, Nick Hyden (Brown Hill), Matt Cape, Peter Moore (Darley), Brad Whittaker (East Ballarat), Steve Nicholson, Matt Ward, Darren Fletcher, Rhett Ovens, Lincoln Blake (Mt Clear), Bobby Hind (North Ballarat), Dan Davies (Napoleons-Sebastopol), David Ellis, Tristan Dixon, Grant Bell (Wendouree).