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A masterclass performance with the ball from Liam Rigby helped Buninyong score an emphatic first innings victory against Ballarat-Redan on Saturday.
On another wet weather afternoon in the Ballarat Cricket Association, Rigby tore through the Two Swords' batting line-up to finish with a stunning 7-16.
Rigby, a past EJ Cleary Medal winner, said they were the best figures he'd ever recorded.
"It was one of those days where it was tough to bat and when you get one they seem to roll on a bit," he told The Courier.
"There was a fair bit of assistance from the wicket which was quite nice, but it was nice to bowl fluent and straight and attack the stumps."
While Rigby dominated to help dismiss Ballarat-Redan for just 49 inside 25 overs at Alfredton, he wasn't the only bowler to reap some big rewards.
Geordie McLeod claimed a hat-trick during the innings, one which caught his teammates by surprise. McLeod took wickets with the last two balls of an over and then bowled Simon Allan with the first delivery of his next over to complete the feat.
With only a very small total to chase down, Buninyong started its innings in shaky fashion.
The team lost opener Bobby Hind for a golden duck and then Stuart Squire shortly after to be 2-11.
But a quickfire half century from recruit Mayank Sharma put the first innings result beyond doubt and allowed Buninyong to reach 120 before being bowled out in the 41st over.
"We were struggling in the beginning and we lost some wickets early," Sharma said.
"My captain wanted me to go out and hit some balls and I got 30 runs in 15 balls which was pretty good for me and my team to take the pressure off."
English recruit Sam Burgess missed out with the bat but claimed four wickets with the ball for the Two Swords. Michael Hayes and Brendan Thomson both took two each.
Looking ahead to next weekend, which will be the second day of the two-day clash, Buninyong will certainly go in search of outright success.
Elsewhere, Nathan Yates made an unbeaten century as Mt Clear reached 4-193 against Wendouree.
Yates hit 12 fours and a six on his way to 102 not out at CE Brown Reserve. Brendan Moyle also made 53.
Mt Clear will face another 10 overs next Saturday before Wendouree gets 70 overs to chase down the total.
The only other first grade game to get underway on Saturday was the battle between Golden Point and Brown Hill at the Eastern Oval.
With some rain delays, the Pointies batted for 45 overs and reached stumps at 4-119.
This leaves the home side with another 16 overs next weekend before the Bulls get 61 to hunt down the target.
Andrew Falkner top scored with 55 for the Pointies, with Manjula De Zoysa (15 not out) and Daniel White (10 not out) still at the crease.
Prabath Priyankara was the best of the Brown Hill bowlers with two wickets for the afternoon, while both Viraj Pushpakumara and captain Tom Bourke-Finn took one each.
Games at Napoleons and Northern Oval both failed to get underway due to rain.
Naps-Sebas and Darley will lock horns in a one-day fixture next Saturday, as will last season's grand finalists North Ballarat and East Ballarat.