Napoleons-Sebastopol claim huge scalp, Eddy skittles former side | Ballarat Cricket Association round seven wrap

Its new bowling attack hit its stride early in the contest, Darley immediately on the back foot at 3-17.

READ MORE SPORT:

Recruit Jacob Coxall was the chief wicket taker early, claiming two scalps. He finished with figures of 2-47.

It was Sajith Dissanayaka that really had the rising side up and about, however, picking up three-straight wickets to take Darley to 7-99. He finished with impressive figures of 3-19.

The Lions managed to lift its total to a defendable 155 thanks to 83 from all-rounder Danza Hyatt.

They were all out after 45.1 overs and any hope of early wickets to put Napoleons-Sebastopol under pressure were diminished, with Daniel Scott and Dissanayaka racing to 0-76 off 17 overs, the latter scoring 60 of them.

Dissanayaka was out soon after, Napoleons-Sebastopol falling to 1-89.

Jacob Ramsey fell quickly for 0 and Luke Corden wasn't far behind for another duck.

When opener Daniel Scott was dismissed for 29, Napoleons-Sebastopol fell to 4-100 and Darley seemed to be back in the game.

Viraj Pushpakumara and Corey Hucker steadied the ship, able to put on a 23-run partnership to help the side edge ever closer to an upset win.

Napoleons-Sebastopol lost another two wickets but it meant little, the side able to chase down Darley's total in 44.4 overs and head into 2022 full of confidence.

Napoleons-Sebastopol 6-158 (Sajith Dissanayaka 60, Daniel Scott 29, Madushanka Ekanayaka 3-30) def Darley 155 (Danza Hyatt 83, Sajith Dissanayaka 3-19, Viraj Pushpakumara 2-21, Jacob Coxall 2-47)

East Ballarat coach and former North Ballarat player Adam Eddy reminded his former side just how damaging he can be, taking 4-28 as the Roosters were bowled out for 142.

The final scoreline looks a respectable one for North Ballarat but the game was heading in an ugly direction early in its run chase.

It was an even contest early in East Ballarat's innings.

The home side fell to 3-47, the Roosters seemingly on top with Leigh Lorenzen and Ash McCafferty bowling well.

Lewis Hodgins and Chris Jerram got the Hawks going, however, the pair smashing three fours off a Sam Jackson over to lift the run rate.

The next over was much of the same, Hodgins hitting Lorenzen for three fours in the over to lift East Ballarat to 3-74 from 20 overs.

Hodgins was out soon after for 21 and Jerram departed later for a team-high 34.

The remainder of the line-up could only manage a further 51 runs, the Hawks posting 156.

The Roosters run chase could not have started worse.

They fell to 6-16, Eddy picking up four of them.

Vikrant Dabra and Shean Vanderwert managed to put together a solid 56-run partnership to take the Roosters to 62, until the latter departed for 13, the first of three wickets to fall for just three runs.

At 9-65 all hope seemed lost of running down the 156 runs.

Enter number nine Sam Jackson and number 11 Mitchell Nicholson.

The pair put on a 77-run partnership to nearly steer North Ballarat to victory.

Jackson (48) smashed three fours and as many sixes, while Nicholson (30) found the boundary four times for three fours and a six.

Ultimately, Nicholson departed, bowled by Hodgins, the Roosters falling 15 runs short of a remarkable fight back.

East Ballarat 156 (Chris Jerram 34, Vikrant Dabra 3-18, Ash McCafferty 2-22, Leigh Lorenzen 2-37) def North Ballarat 142 (Sam Jackson 48*, Vikrant Dabra 31, Mitchell Nicholson 30, Adam Eddy 4-28, Joshua Brown 2-14, Harry Ganley 2-28)

Liam Rigby was the star of Buninyong's bowling attack but when it came to the run chase, there was an even contribution across the board that helped the Bunnies to a win over Mt Clear.

Rigby took 4-32, however, Mt Clear was able to post an impressive total of 191 from its 50 overs.

Isaac Hucker led the way with 62, while Jarrod Burns added an important 47 to put the Mounties in a winning position heading into the field.

Mt Clear's defence could not have started better, Kendrick Hatton departing for seven.

Buninyong was able to take control of the game from there for a period, Robert Hind (39) and Rupinder Singh (34) combining for 74 runs before Singh departed.

Following Singh's dismissal Mt Clear found its groove, taking 2-38 to slow down Buninyong's chase to 4-119.

The one constant throughout the innings though was the presence of Liam Brady at the crease, who finished unbeaten on 53.

Despite another four wickets falling around him and Buninyong finding itself 8-174, Brady held firm, able to steer the Bunnies to victory in the 46th over.

Mt Clear 8-191 (Isaac Hucker 62, Jarrod Burns 47, Liam Rigby 4-32) def by Buninyong (Liam Brady 53*, Robert Hind 39, Rupinder Singh 34, Ashley George 2-34, John Butler 2-42)

The much improved Ballarat-Redan entered Saturday's clash in great form but the waiting Wendouree was its biggest test to date.

The Two Swords started the game strongly, managing to make their way to 2-76 with opener Zac Jenkins in fine touch.

Matt Sanford fell quickly after for 0 and when Billy Jones followed him to the sheds for two, the game seemed to be slipping away from Ballarat-Redan.

Enter Bailey Hosemans. The number six batted out the innings alongside Jenkins, who continued on to make an unbeaten 105.

Hosemans was unbeaten on 50 and the Two Swords had a total it could defend of 189.

Wendouree openers Cole Roscholler and Sam Miller wasted no time getting the run chase underway.

The pair put on an opening partnership stand of 88 before Roscholler departed for 52.

Miller and Tristan Maple continued the charge and led the Red Caps to 179 before Maple was dismissed for 33.

Billy Jones claimed two-consecutive wickets but it was too little, too late.

Heath Pyke and Miller were able to lead Wendouree to 3-190, a seventh-consecutive win and first-place on the ladder heading into the new year.

Wendouree 3-190 (Sam Miller 88*, Cole Roscholler 52, Tristan Maple 33, Billy Jones 2-35) def Ballarat Redan 4-189 (Zac Jenkins 105*, Bailey Hosemans 50)

A Joshua Pegg century set up a dominant Golden Point total of 259, one that Brown Hill never got near.

It was a cracking start from the Bulls, Prabath Priyankara dismissing Simon Ogilvie for one and putting the Pointies on the back foot.

It was all Golden Point from then on.

Pegg (105) and Joshua White (95) put on a 201-run partnership to put the Pointies in the most commanding of positions.

Manjula De Zoysa added a handy 29 before Priyankara ripped through the middle order.

He finished with figures of 6-60, four of them following De Zoysa's dismissal.

Despite the late flurry of wickets, Brown Hill still had a big run chase on its hands.

It did not get off to the greatest of starts, the Bulls falling to 4-58 and the 259-run total slipping further and further away.

Priyankara (65) did all he could to lift the home side but the assistance around him just wasn't there.

In a positive result for the young Bulls they forced their way to 160 from their 47.5 overs before being dismissed, an improvement on some of their early season totals and a positive to take into 2022.

Brown Hill 160 ( Prabath Priyankara 65, Daniel White 3-40, Lachlan Herring 2-6, Daniel McDonald 2-17, Simon Ogilvie 2-32) def by Golden Point (Joshua Pegg 105, Joshua White 95, Manjula De Zoysa 29, Prabath Priyankara 6-60)

If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.

Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.