KILMORE is back atop the Seymour District Cricket Association ladder after cruising to a 10-wicket win over Eastern Hill at home on Saturday.
After winning the toss and batting, Eastern Hill was all out for 103 after 36 overs on the back of Brett Buttler’s 4/20.
Kilmore struck early when captain Josh Buttler skittled Eastern Hill opener Regan Gardner for a duck.
Wickets continued to fall with regularity, as Brett Buttler dismissed Eastern Hill’s other opener Brayden Speechley, caught by Shane Topham, for 11 and Corey Dennehy sent Billy Cox packing, caught behind by Matt Rose, for 8 to have the visitors 3/34.
Eastern Hill was able to steady the ship somewhat, putting on a 36-run partnership before Dale Tassone took a great catch falling to his left to dismiss Eastern Hill top-scorer Ben Bryant for 22 off the bowling of Ben Trezise.
Trezise followed up quickly, dismissing Seamus Feery for 21 to have Eastern Hill 5/76.
Eastern Hill’s tail fell like dominos, with the final four wickets taken for just two runs.
Brett Buttler took 4/20 from nine overs while Ben Trezise finished with figures of 2/13 from four overs.
Kilmore openers Dale Tassone and captain Josh Buttler did not have much trouble chasing down the small target, getting the job done in just 24 overs without losing a wicket.
Buttler made 52 in the chase while Tassone made 48.
The win comes after Kilmore suffered its first loss of the season at home to Yea last week, going down by six wickets despite Dale Tassone’s 94.
Broadford is nipping at Kilmore’s heels, behind only on percentage, after a 98-run win over Pyalong on the road.
Broadford got themselves off to a solid start with a 51-run opening partnership between captain Ash Wood and Riley Mason, which ended when Wood was caught by Jarryd Ruddick off Damien Zoch for 25.
Mitchell Collier (64) and Liam Collier (75) put on 63 together, to take Broadford to 5/188 before Liam, scoring at better than a run a ball, put on another 47 with Jeremy Bradshaw (11) to take Broadford to 6/248 at the end of its innings.
Pyalong started well, getting to 2/60 before a middle-order collapse, losing 4/13, left the hosts in some strife.
Pyalong was behind the eight ball from that point forward and, despite strong innings from Daniel Snowden (33) and Sean Delaney (28), could not play catch up fast enough, finishing the innings 7/150.
The win continues Broadford’s strong run of form after a century from captain Ash Wood led them to a 133-run win over Seymour last week.
Tallarook scored a close win over Yea, bowling the Tigers out with seven balls left to prevail by six runs.
Dan Fisher made 55 before he was run out while Blake Coyle and Lachlan Watts took three wickets each.
Seymour made very quick work of Alexandra at home, taking only 20 overs to bowl out the visitors before completing the run chase in just nine overs.
