Lucas played Buninyong in the BCA division one grand final.
AN unbeaten sixth-wicket stand has put Lucas in a strong position after day two of the Ballarat Cricket Association district division one grand final against Buninyong.
Jake Pring (42 not out) and Nick Young (59 not out) wrestled the match away from the reigning premiers at Dunnstown late yesterday.
The pair helped Lucas recover from 5-70 to reach stumps just one run behind the Bunnies’ total of 163 with two days to play.
Rain delays on Saturday saw Buninyong complete its innings early yesterday.
Lucas trails by just one run with five wickets in hand and has some 14 overs to complete its first innings next Saturday.
Captain Nathan Clarke, who snared three wickets, said his team was well poised moving into day three and would look to build a lead of about 100 before Buninyong returned to the crease.
“I’m very happy. There’s still a long way to go though. You can’t take (Buninyong) out of the game. They have been there before, they’re confident and are a good batting side,” Clarke said.
“If we can put on a good total and lead I’ve got no doubt it’s going to be a lot tougher for them.”
With first innings victory almost secure for Lucas, Buninyong captain Michael Flynn is now looking towards a reverse outright to secure back-to-back flags.
“If we can restrict them next week and then come out and play positive cricket and set them a total, we know we are a good chance to be able to get the outright result,” Flynn said. Medium pacer Simon Hucker took four wickets to help dismiss the Bunnies, which were led at the top of the order by Luke Reynolds (38) and in the middle by Nick Haintz (46).
Opener Jake Harris (2-28) has been the pick of the Buninyong bowlers so far.