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Darley has surged clear at the top of the Ballarat Cricket Association as the competition winds down for the mid-season break.
The Lions powered 12 points clear at the top of the first grade ladder after easily accounting for Buninyong on Saturday afternoon.
In what was the second of the season's Twenty20 rounds, the Darley boys claimed the three points following a narrow win on home soil.
Batting first, the Lions reached 2-158 thanks to a sizzling 84 not out from import Danza Hyatt. He smashed four fours and five sixes in his innings, which lasted just 54 balls.
He got great support from fellow overseas player Harry Killoran, who made an unbeaten 48.
Buninyong gave the run chase a real shake with contributions from most of the top order, but in the end fell eight runs short of victory. The Bunnies were 6-151 at the end of their 20 overs.
The best of the batsmen was Liam Rigby with 34, while Madushanka Ekanayaka and Rahmatullah Khwaja both claimed two wickets each for the winners.
The result leaves the Lions with seven wins and two draws from the opening nine rounds of the campaign and 12 points clear of the second-placed Mt Clear.
It's a great start for Darley, which has never won a BCA first grade premiership.
Following the break, the Lions take on the in-form Brown Hill on January 11.
Darley coach Brian Wheelahan said it was great for his team to get over the line in what was a tough contest.
"We walk away with a tight win and we were under the pump so it was good to be put under a lot of pressure and come away with a win and remain undefeated," he said.
"We're a pretty well-rounded side at the moment."
While Darley remained unbeaten, the performance of the round came from Mt Clear skipper Darcy Thomson.
Thomson took a stunning seven-wicket haul in the Mounties' comfortable victory over Napoleons-Sebastopol.
Mt Clear had earlier made 3-187 from its 20 overs and looked to have a game on its hands when Naps-Sebas cruised to 1-78 in reply.
But that's when Thomson stepped in and claimed 7-17 from 3.5 overs to bundle the visitors out for 103.
Steve Nicholson (55), Nathan Yates (44) and Jacob Smith (41) top-scored with the bat for Mt Clear, while Sajith Dissanayaka (38) and Jonah Healy (37) started well for Naps-Sebas before the collapse.
Mt Clear's win has lifted the side back to second on the ladder following East Ballarat's defeat on Saturday.
It was Brown Hill that was the giant killers, with the Bulls beating the reigning premiers by five wickets.
Captain Josh Brown made a handy 42 not out down the order to lift the Hawks to 7-145 from 20 overs, but it wasn't enough as the Brown Hill boys passed the total with more than an over to spare.
Matthew Sandford (37), Ryan Knowles (33) and Viraj Pushpakumara (33) led the way with the bat for the victors, with Knowles and Imesh Udayanga both claiming three wickets earlier in the afternoon.
Wendouree climbed over East Ballarat into third spot after beating Ballarat-Redan.
The Red Caps restricted the Two Swords to 7-98 and then eclipsed the total in the 16th over with the loss of just two wickets.
Cole Roscholler made an unbeaten 51 for Wendouree, with Jack Peeters taking three wickets.
The final game of the round saw Golden Point get the better of North Ballarat.
The Pointies made 4-156 thanks largely to 55 from Lachlan Anderson and then held the Roosters to 7-109 in reply.
Competition now breaks until round 10 gets underway on January 11.