MT CLEAR moved a step closer to an undefeated home and away season on Saturday with a crushing first-innings win over Brown Hill.
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The Mounties all but secured the Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts minor premiership, putting further space between them and the Bulls with a 112-run victory at University of Ballarat.
Mt Clear, unbeaten in the first 10 rounds of the campaign, is now 14 points clear of the second-placed Bulls with two rounds until finals.
It was the brilliant work with the bat that set up the victory on day one of the clash, but another strong display with the ball clinched the match.
A Brown Hill batting collapse also played its part.
Opener Jack James got the visitor’s run chase off to a strong start – making 73 at the top of the order – and when he and Shane Harwood carried the score to 2-159, things looked to be on target.
Trigger the collapse.
Harwood’s dismissal for 26 started a horror run for the Bulls, which capitulated to lose their next seven wickets for 41 runs to be all out for 200.
Spinner Steve Nicholson did the most damage, snaring 4-65 from a big 26-over stint, while Daniel Hopkinson surely secured three votes in the EJ Cleary Medal count with two wickets to add to his century from day one.
Mt Clear now prepares for a clash with Golden Point, while Brown Hill can bounce back against North Ballarat.
tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au