Broadford is in the box-seat to deliver Yea Tigers’ first loss of the season after day one of their Seymour District Cricket Association A Grade match.
After winning the toss and sending the visitors in to bat at Harley Hammond Reserve, Broadford was able to bowl out the undefeated Tigers for 121 from just 53.3 overs.
Broadford didn’t allow Yea’s top-order to build early partnerships with Jack Connell dismissing both openers and Lee McKenzie following up with a third quick wicket to have Yea 3/29.
The hosts kept taking wickets consistently as no Yea partnership cracked the 25-run mark.
Darcy Pell (13) and Ryan Akers (33) put together a 24-run fourth-wicket partnership until McKenzie dismissed Pell leg before wicket at 4/53.
Akers was eventually caught by Evan Mills for Braden Hickey’s first of four wickets for the day with Yea 6/96.
Hickey cleaned up Yea’s tail, taking three more wickets on his way to 4/17 from 8.3 overs with two maidens.
With a bit of daylight left, Broadford was able to get a 19-over head start on its run chase, finishing 1/43 at stumps.
Blair Hobba (20 not out) and Braden Hickey (18 not out) will resume their innings on Saturday.
Broadford coach Greg Hobba said it was a pleasing day for the hosts.
“The way the wicket was, we were always going to bowl and all of our bowlers played exceptionally well and bowled in tandem, not giving anything away so everything fell into place pretty well,” he said.
“We had a look prior to the start of play at the past two two-dayers we’ve played and we’ve improved gradually, but Saturday was the best fielding performance we’ve had throughout the two-dayers.
“We were very pleased with Jack. Unfortunately he hasn’t been able to get wickets recently but kept the pressure up so wickets could be taken at the other end.
“Our goal was to go into day two with wickets in hand so to finish with only one wicket down and 80 behind, it’s put a bit of a dint into the total.”
Meanwhile, Kilmore faces an uphill battle on day two as Seymour seeks its first win of the 2019/20 season in its two-day match at Chittick Park.
After Seymour won the toss and elected to bat, Kilmore looked good early and had Seymour’s back against the wall at 3/29 thanks to three quick wickets from Ben Dawson (3/26 from 11 overs with three maidens).
Seymour was 5/73 when Danny Fountain joined opener Jason Brown in the middle.
The pair put together a 52-run partnership before Brown was caught and bowled by Brett Buttler (1/21 from 17 overs with 10 maidens) for 55.
Fountain fell soon after, caught by Matthew Rose off Josh Buttler (2/52 from 21 overs with eight maidens) for 26 with Seymour 7/159.
Seymour didn’t last much longer, declaring at 9/178 from 74 overs to have a crack at Kilmore’s top-order before stumps.
It was a risk that paid off for the hosts with two quick wickets leaving Kilmore on 2/21 at stumps from just six overs.
Ash Lovick (4) fell early at 1/4 and he was followed by Ben Trezise (10) at 2/10. Josh Buttler (4 not out) and Marcus Davern (1 not out) will resume Kilmore’s innings on Saturday.
Tallarook are chasing its fifth win of the season after being bowled out by Eastern Hill for 203 from 75.3 overs.
Tallarook captain Leigh Irving led the charge for the reigning premiers, making 56 before getting caught.
Tim Rudd-Schmidt took 4/55 from 17 overs with four maidens for Eastern Hill.
