Darley survives late COVID scare to hand Red Caps first loss | BCA round eight wrap

Opening bowler Ben Longhurst proved the difference on his return from injury, claiming figures of 5-23 to help dismiss Wendouree for a lowly 65, before Danza Hyatt (41) fired with the bat to resign the Red Caps to their first loss of the Ballarat Cricket Association season.

Though the rain that dominated preceding days had passed, the start of the match was still delayed as Darley raced to field a team.

Dilan Chandima, Mitch Ward and Brodie Ward were all last-minute withdrawals due to COVID isolation requirements.

Chandima shaped as the Lions' biggest loss, having scored 297 runs at 59.40 to date, but his replacement wasted little time getting into the affair.

Brodie Gellie, playing just his second firsts game, took a sharp chance at gully to dismiss in-form Red Caps opener Cole Roscholler for a lone run.

The wickets would fall in rapid succession for the hosts, as Madushanka Ekanayaka (3-26) and Longhurst made the most of a swinging new ball.

The Red Caps' middle order deserted them, with only Zack Maple (24) offering resistance before he became Jake Oorloff's maiden firsts wicket.

Chasing a small target, all eyes were on talismanic Lions all-rounder Danza Hyatt who took to the crease seeking a third-consecutive half-century.

The West Indian wasted little time showing his intentions, hitting a four off the second ball he faced.

Hyatt hit one six and six fours in total before trying to dispatch Tom Batters (2-36) one too many times.

The win takes Darley to within six points of ladder leaders Wendouree.

The Red Caps are set to welcome back at least four top-grade firsts players from isolation for next weekend's game against Mt Clear.

Darley will host Ballarat-Redan.

An unbeaten century and three wickets; cricket's an easy game for Napoleons-Sebastopol figurehead Sajith Dissanayaka.

The all-rounder scored 127 runs from 76 balls with nine sixes and 13 fours to guide his side to a 10-wicket win against Mt Clear.

It was Dissanayaka's first century since joining Naps-Sebas in 2019 and the third time he's surpassed 50 this season.

Opting to bat, Mt Clear was made to work hard for its runs.

Sustained pressure saw Luke Corden (1-15 off 8) dismiss Isaac Hucker in single figures, while Naps-Sebas conceded a lowly 27 off the first 10 overs.

Dissanayaka (3-36) was thrown the ball once fielding restrictions eased and struck with his first delivery, dismissing the Mounties' leading runscorer for the season Matt Goonan.

The legspinner took wickets at vital times for his side, dismissing both Thomas La Lievre (28) and Jack Jeffrey (21) as they threatened to counterpunch.

Adrian Beer (38), playing his second firsts game in three seasons, attempted a late salvage job before he became the last in a flurry of Lachlan Storey wickets.

Storey finished with figures of 3-15 to help restrict Mt Clear to 149.

Dissanayaka quickly set the tone for the chase, hitting a six and two fours within his first seven balls.

The pace never settled as Naps-Sebas raced to 0-72 after 10 overs.

Stand-in captain Jarrod Burns was the most economical of the Mounties' bowlers with an economy rate of 4.75 but he could do little but admire the power-hitting display.

Dissanyaka hit three sixes off the final three deliveries he faced to see Naps-Sebas home in the 24th over.

Dissanayaka now shares the second-highest score of the season alongside Ballarat-Redan opener Zac Jenkins, whose unbeaten 127 came in a final-ball win against Golden Point.

Sam Miller's 148* for Wendouree still stands at the top of the list.

Wendouree 65 (B Longhurst 5-23 M Ekanayaka 3-26) def by Darley 3-66 (DP Hyatt 41 T Batters 2-36)

Mt Clear 149 (AJ Beer 38 TL Le Lievre 28 L Storey 3/15 S Dissanayaka 3/36) def by Naps-Sebas 0-154 S Dissanayaka 127*)

East Ballarat 9/162 (H Ganley 48 J Hayes 2/23 J Landwehr 2/29 M Aikman 2/39 def Ballarat-Redan 154 (J Hayes 75 M Riding 32 T Walton 3/24 C Jerram 2/12 A Eddy 2/27)

North Ballarat 6/198 (MP Zakynthinos 54 AS McCafferty 48 V Dabra 43 T Bourke-Finn 4/25) def Brown Hill 104 (L Koliba 38 J Crosbie 3/16 S Jackson 2/15 V Dabra 2/23)

Buninyong 145 (H Bond 65 L Brady 50 S Ogilvie 4/28 A Warrick 3/12 D McDonald 3/26) def by Golden Point 6/225 (LG Herring 44* J Bambury 38 J Pegg 36 L Rigby 3/54 K Hatton 2/29)