BALLAN has grabbed an early advantage in Ballarat Cricket Association district division one.
Ballan is alone on top of the ladder on 12 premiership points after two rounds.
Creswick Imperials, Dunnstown and Lucas are also without losses, but draws and byes have them just off the pace.
Ballan defended 199 by dismissing Burrumbeet for 165.
Wicketkeeper Darren Linane had a day out with the bat for the Beet, getting 68 as an opener.
Unfortunately, wickets kept falling at the other end to always give Ballan an edge.
The loss of Linane sparked the beginning of the end for Burrumbeet, which slumped from 6-146 – losing its last three wickets for three runs.
David Gardiner was the main destroyer, taking 5-46.
Interestingly he took six wickets in a match against Burrumbeet last season.
Creswick-Imperials successfully chased down Buninyong’s 148.
They reached 7-151 on the back of a 100-run stand by Steve Miles, 64 in his first visit to the crease for the season, and skipper Kane Leatham, 48.
The wickets were shared about with Todd Kitchen returning Buninyong’s best figures with 2-12 off seven overs.
VRI Delacombe, 8-219, was unable to threaten the Lucas total of 292.
Opener Reece Fella, 63, and then later down the order Jeromy Johnston, 46, gave it a shot, but was unable to get anywhere near the run rate required.