DARLEY'S finals hopes most likely evaporated in a sensational top order collapse at the hands of Wendouree in the Ballarat Cricket Association firsts competition on Saturday.
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The Lions crashed to 6-11 at stumps at St Patrick's College in a dramatic end to the day's player.
Desperately needing a win to stay in touch with the top four, Darley had given itself a real chance of an upset by dismissing the Red Caps for a manageable 158.
This left it 15 overs to make a start to the run chase.
Not even Wendouree would have envisaged what was about the happen.
AT the other end of the scale, Brown Hill's Ryan Knowles went on a run spree as he smashed a twenty20-like 157 against East Ballarat at East High.
His spectacular knock came off 127 balls after Chris Banwell, 69, had earlier provided the foundation for what would finish up at 7-327 declared.
Knowles smacked 22 fours and six sixes in a punishing display.
East Ballarat is 0-26 in reply.
BEN Severino, 82, Jason Crosbie 26no, and Ash McCafferty, 23, provided a lower order rescue to put North Ballarat back in the match against Napoleons-Sebastopol at Napoleons.
The Roosters were 3-3 and later 8-66 before the trio finally provided some resistance to get the tally to 179.
The home team survived two overs to be 0-2/
MT Clear had to battle to get 197 against Ballarat-Redan at Mt Clear.
In an even run of play, the Combine kept Mt Clear restrained for most of the day and it was only an eight wicket stand of 64 between Grant Trevenen, 34, and Jarrod Burns, 44, which stretched the attack.
GOLDEN Point is 2-57 and well in control against Coronety City, 98.
MATCH SUMMARIES:
Mt Clear 197 (Jarrod Burns 44, Grant Trevenen 34, Nicholas Baird 31, Les Sandwith 27; Simon Allan 5-40, Ryan Allan 2-25) v Ballarat-Redan 0-12
Wendouree 158 (Gavin Webb 49, Liam Brady 34, Grant Bell 25) v Darley 6-11 (Eamon Johnson 3-8, Sam Peeters 2-2)
North Ballarat 179 (Ben Severino 82 Jason Crosbie 26no; Liam Rigby 3-55 Riley Henderson 2-19, Matt Ringin 2-20) v Napoleons-Sebastopol 0-2
East Ballarat 0-26 v Brown Hill 7-327dec (Ryan Knowles 157, Chris Banwell 69, Dan Davies 36; Brad Whittaker 2-27)
Coronet City 98 (Simon Ogilvie 3-11, Dan White 2-16, Sam Jayantha 2-21, Pete Appleton 2-23) v Golden Point 2-57 (Andrew Falklner 21no)
