MOMENTUM is starting to fall the Ballarat Cricket Association’s way in its Melbourne Country Week campaign, with the side belting Ferntree Gully by 75 runs in its second-round match.
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Ballarat opened the batting with a total of 9-236 and held its opposition at bay with a disciplined stretch of bowling that yielded a score of just 8-161 at Ivanhoe yesterday.
Playing captain Carman Mapatuna led the way with the bat, notching up 96 runs from 117 deliveries, and received strong support from Ryan Knowles (44 off 59) and Bobby Hind (35 off 63).
Unlike its first division two encounter, in which Ballarat nearly let slip a sure win against Benalla, the side was able to complement its strong batting form with a stingy display with the ball.
Steven Nicholson was the most efficient of Ballarat’s bowlers, taking two wickets for 17 runs while Jason Knowles took 2 for 28.
Liam Rigby and Andrew Warrick also chipped in, taking one for 26 and one for 16 respectively.
Ferntree Gully got off to a solid start in its innings with the bat, with the side sitting at 4-82 before a middle order collapse led to its eventual demise.
Ballarat will face off against Traralgon in the third round at the Malvern Cricket Ground today.
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au