DARLEY'S Cape Show was in full swing, carving up the small confines of Ballarat High School's oval for a fast century.

Lions' skipper Matt Cape made sure his team wasted no time in burying Coronet City's 41-run tally (that featured six ducks)  to claim a clear first innings victory in Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts on Saturday afternoon.

Cape reached the milestone with a cheeky single - uncharacteristic of his batting form on day one.

He then promptly declared with the Lions at 3-173 not long after drinks, his Lions with a 132-run lead.

Cape belted out his ton with 15 fours and five sixes and his full flight when he tore apart City bowler Brad Dunbar for a 27-run over (1 six, 1 five, 3 fours) to take his tally to 97 runs.

The Lions' leader then had to wait out a maiden over, with Lachie Herring facing, before he could polish off his work and call an end to the Lions' innings.

Cape held the Lions' top order together. Jake Wilkie was the only other Lion to bat in double figues. Wilkie was run out on 38 runs.

Coronet City finished the afternoon batting with Brendan Burns' 22-runs anchoring the innings.

City lost four wickets in 13 overs - two wickets to Lion Ryan Ali and two via Sajith Rupasingha.

NORTH BALLARAT v BROWN HILL 8-303 at Northern Oval

THIS was playing-coach versus playing-coach to be the headline act at Northern Oval.

Bulls' leader Dan Davies was unbreakable. North's Jason Crosbie was destructive.

Davies produced a well-crafted and unbeaten 146 runs, bringing up his century with a boundary.

Crosbie claimed a five-wicket haul, spurred on after nabbing his 200th club wicket in last weekend's Ballarat Cricket Association Twenty20 Cup action.

The Bulls were in trouble early, 2-16, at the hands of Roosters' emerging paceman Ash McCafferty and Crosbie got started to have the Bulls 3-24.

Davies and Bulls skipper Shane Harwood (69 runs off 86 balls) revived the order in a 111-run fourth wicket partnership.

Nathan Northcott, batting sixth, chipped in 31 runs but Crosbie got to work again and picked apart the lower order.

Matt McMahon (22 runs, not out) helped Davies ensure the Bulls finished the innings steady and in a strong position to defend on day two.

WENDOUREE 9-194 v NAPOLEONS-SEBASTOPOL at St Patrick's College

LIAM Rigby was in ruthless bowling form for Napoleons-Sebastopol, capturing 5-23 off nine overs.

Rival Wendouree still managed to compile 194 runs - a reasonable score on a slow, very lush number one oval at St Patrick's College.

Naps-Sebas key quick Brendan Thomson bowled 12 overs for no return in his first appearance this season.

Thomson returns from a four-match suspension that stems from last season's semi-finals.

Wendouree captain Cole Roscholler headlined the Red Caps' innings with 59 runs.

*Wendouree batting is yet to be confirmed.

MOUNT CLEAR v GOLDEN POINT 8-284 at Eastern Oval

POINTIES' White brothers set the tone with their bats to help Golden Point into a strong position against Mount Clear.

Skipper Josh White put on 66 runs off 128 balls following a 63-run partnership between Dwayne Hiscock and Andrew Falkner and the quick dismissal of Hiscock for no added runs.

David Whapplington (36 runs off 94 balls) teamed with White to steady the order in a 79-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Dan White made a start with his brother then picked up where Josh left off with a handy half-century and reached 55 runs off 92 balls.

Ash George was the Mounties' stand-out bowler, taking 3-78 off his 24 overs.

Jordan long was the Mounties' only other multiple wicket-taker with 2-38 off nine.

BALLARAT-REDAN 187 v EAST BALLARAT 3-51 at City Oval

THERE is still a lot of work to do for East Ballarat to feel comfortable.

The Hawks dismissed Ballarat-Redan for 187 runs within 57 overs and got to work batting 20 overs to chip their target back to 137 runs.

But the Hawks will resume three wickets down, including returned all-rounder Peter Colbourne, after the Combine denied the Hawks a chance to find firm footing at the crease.

Chris Egan captured 2-9 off his seven overs, including three maidens.

Simon Franc, unbeaten on 30 runs, and captain Brad Whittaker safely guided the Hawks to stumps and a 51-run tally.

Earlier, Colbourne stamped his return to Ballarat cricket by claiming 3-9 off 4.5 overs, including two overs.

Colbourne claimed the Combine's two most dangerous batsmen for the innings in Simon Allan (41 runs of 48 balls) and Greg Wakeling (39 runs).

The experienced Combine duo salvaged a pretty ordinary day for their team with the bat.

Allan and Wakeling served up a 64-run seventh wicket partnership.

Hawks' opening bowler Josh Brown also impressed with the ball, taking 3-38 off 17 overs (five maidens).

Brown ousted Combine openers Bobby Hind and Zac Jenkins cheap to have the combine at 2-24.