JUST when Mt Clear though it might take top spot with an outright win, the Mounties discovered competition leader Napoleons-Sebastopol had done the same thing.The battle for the remaining top-four rankings is becoming more furiously contested in Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts.Wendouree entered the round perched outside the four on percentage and overcame a few batting hiccups to bump off Ballarat-Redan in day two action.This sends the Combine back outside the four, ahead of a battle with the Mounties next round.Brown Hill kept its spot in the four by tearing apart East Ballarat – and the Hawks’ slim finals chance – at East High.Bulls paceman Jason Knowles obliterated the Hawks’ steady chase with five wickets, including a hat-trick, plus a run-out. And he did it all after the tea break, claiming 5-6 when play resumed.The Hawks’ target was 210 runs. They had 24 runs on the board and nine wickets in hand to start day two. Instead, the Bulls stopped them 75 runs short.Mark Shaw and Tim Rieniets started well, adding 32 runs to their 47-run stand by the second wicket.Hawks skipper Nathan Yates persisted a long time in gusty conditions to make 37 runs (1 six, 3 fours).Yates worked a 45-run partnership with Brad Whittaker (26 runs) to take the Hawks to 4-106.Ballarat Electrical Bulls’ captain Ryan Knowles said at that stage, the Hawks seemed to have momentum. Yates was proving hard to dislodge and had potential to carry the Hawks to victory off his own bat.Then Jason Knowles struck. The Bulls claimed the Hawks’ remaining six wickets and conceded just 28 runs.TOM Reece worked doggedly at the crease to deliver Wendouree a crucial victory at home.The Red Caps eclipsed Ballarat-Redan’s 150-run tally with six wickets in hand at Wendouree.Reece resumed with Gavin Webb at 3-23 after the Red Caps lost key wickets late in play on day one.Webb chalked up 41 runs (1 six, 2 fours) in their 76-run stand by the fourth wicket.Reece persisted while the Combine dismissed Tristan Dixon and Matt Kosloff cheaply to put the Red Caps 6-120.Matt Smith, batting number eight, made 45 runs (1 six, 6 fours) and saw the Red Caps to victory.By then, Reece was well on his way to a century so the Red Caps kept batting.Smith helped him through a 76-run partnership and Reece lasted 10 more overs, only to be caught out on 93 runs (5 fours) off 285 balls.Aaron Johnson was the Combine’s top wicket-taker on day two with 3-38 off 15.3 overs.AS SOON as Mt Clear opener Steve Nicholson reached his century, the Mounties started hunting outright victory.Mt Clear declared at 3-230 and 21 overs into play.North Ballarat’s second innings of 120 runs left Mt Clear with 20 runs credit at Northern Oval.Nicholson and Mounties captain Matt Goonan resumed on day two at 2-109 – already 19 runs in front of North Ballarat.Goonan notched up 56 runs (7 fours) in the 113-run stand to take the Mounties to 3-158.Playing-coach Paull Jeffrey came in to help Nicholson to his unbeaten 100 (4 sixes, 7 fours) before sending the Roosters back in to bat.Nicholson carried his stellar form into the Mounties’ bowling attack, capturing 4-9 and eight maidens off 11 overs.The Mounties got to work quickly, dismantling the Roosters’ top order 3-17.Mounties’ paceman Rhett Ovens was lethal, taking 3-28, while Lincoln Blake, Darren Fletcher and leg-spin debutant Jarrod Rodgers each claimed a scalp.