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In a sweltering day, fielding team Brown Hill was left feeling the heat post-match after a brush with the undefeated Mount Clear on Saturday.
This was the most anticipated clash of the Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts season - and the Mounties have reinforced why they are the title favourite.
Feared all-rounder Dan Hopkinson carved up the Bulls' trademark sharp attack to build an unbeaten 107 runs (12 fours) in Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts at the University of Ballarat.
Hopkinson, who stepped up to the crease with the Mounties at 4-112, guided his team to a 312-run tally by stumps on day one.
Dean Ferris was the only Bull to take multiple wickets - he bagged 2-50, both wickets were caught and bowled - while the usually lethal one-two punch of Shane Harwood and Matt McMahon took a collective two wickets.
Hopkinson formed a string of handy partnerships, starting in an 81-run fifth-wicket stand with Jarrod Burns (34 runs), then putting on a combined 49 runs Hayden Cartledge for the sixth wicket.
Mounties opening bat Les Sandwith launched the strong innings with 43 runs.
NAPOLEONS-SEBASTOPOL v WENDOUREE 6-369
CENTURY makers Heath Pyke and Liam Brady worked hard in the Napoleons heat to build a 214-run partnership.
Pyke belted 13 fours and three sixes to make an impressive 135 runs, chalking up his century off 141 balls.
In the end, exhaustion crept in and Pyke was run out.
Brady made a straight 100 runs (10 fours) and was caught out deep in the innings.
The pair sweat it out at the crease for a combined 358 minutes.
Red Caps opener Cole Roscholler continued his strong form with 51 runs, facing 63 balls, to anchor the innings.
Naps' Dayne Furness was the only multiple wicket-taker, nabbing 2-70 off 15 overs.
BALLARAT-REDAN 297 v EAST BALLARAT 0-13
Ballarat-Redan opening batsman Anthony Taylor came tantalisingly close to a century a City Oval.
Taylor was dismissed lbw on 94 runs, facing 84 deliveries, against East Ballarat.
He got to work in a 64-run opening partnership with captain Allister Edmends (19 runs), who made his return from a broken hand.
The Hawks shared the bowling load among nine players but it was Pete Colbourne, 3-10 off 5.3 overs, and Adam Toohey, 3-59 off 13 overs, who made the wickets fly.
*full batting details unavailable for Ballarat-Redan
NORTH BALLARAT 224 v DARLEY
North Ballarat was all out for 224 runs against Darley at Northern Oval. (Scorecard unavailable)
Jamie Mckerrow captured 3-23 off 12 overs, Clint Salisbury took 3-35 off 12, Ben Longhurst had three catches.
GOLDEN POINT 3-135 d CORONET CITY 113
Golden Point has already claimed victory in the first innings. Coronet City was all out for 113 runs and Point made its reply with 3-135 by stumps at St Patrick's College.
Simon Ogilvie (3-14 off nine overs), Andrew Warrick (3-22 off 11) and Aden Nestor (2-22 off seven) led the Point bowling attack.
Pointies skipper and opener Josh White led the reply with an unbeaten 62 runs.
White formed a 69-run partnership with Ogilvie (40 runs) for the third wicket.
Brad Dunbar topped City's batting with 35 runs while Dom Uljanic opened with 26 runs and Phil Calvert steadied the lower order with 25 runs.