Wendouree’s Eamon Johnson plays off the back foot while Mt Clear wicketkeeper Matt Ward waits hopefully for an edge.
MT CLEAR can gain a small psychological edge over Ballarat Cricket Association powerhouse Wendouree on the eve of finals with a determined batting display next Saturday.
The Mounties, still not assured of a spot in the club firsts finals series, are in a position to clinch a third-straight victory against the Red Caps this season, and do so with a significantly undermanned line-up.
Mt Clear will start day two at 1-5 in reply to Wendouree’s 150.
Ball dominated bat on a tricky Wendouree wicket on Saturday, with the home side crawling its way to a defendable total shortly before stumps.
Captain Heath Pyke top-scored with 33 through the middle order, but the 128 balls it took him proved how difficult scoring would be.
Wendouree was dismissed late in the afternoon, at 5.28pm, leaving the Mounties a difficult little seven-over period late in the day.
And it brought about the downfall of Mountie opener Paull Jeffrey, who was caught behind in the second over of the innings for a duck.
Opener Sam McVitty (one not out) and Simon Feros (0 not out) blocked-out the remaining overs and will resume with their side needing a further 146 runs for victory, with nine wickets in hand.
EJ Clearly Medal winners Matt Goonan (fractured foot) and Daniel Hopkinson (unavailable) are among those missing from the team for this clash, leaving the Mounties with plenty of work to do to ensure victory over one of their most hated of rivals.