GAWLER Central has the chance to chase an outright win against league-leaders Lyndoch in Saturday’s second day of its Barossa & Light Cricket Association A1-reserves matchup after already claiming the first innings victory before stumps.
The Dockers won the toss and opted to bat first at the Dog Track, but were met with a strong bowling performance from the Tiger attack.
Matt Perry (3/29 from 10 overs) and Adam Byster (2/22 with six maidens from 12 overs) carried the bulk of the workload, while Chris Bilney bowled about as good of a four over spell as possible, taking 4/4 to dismiss the visitors for 72.
Tim Gogoll (3/11) and Nathan Goulding (3/18) both bowled well in response, but the Tigers reached the target to win by five wickets before finishing the day at 7/78, with the chance to try and build a lead before sending the Dockers back in.
The other two sides in the top-four, Willaston and Light Pass, both put up respectable scores of 203 and 8/196 while playing Angaston and Freeling, respectively.
Angaston took advantage of the 25 overs it had to bat before stumps to reach 2/92 behind Myles Harvey (43 not-out) and Luke Doecke (38 not-out), leaving it in a strong position to chase down the Donnybrooks.
Freeling will pick up on day two against Lighties at 1/8 after Dylan Childs was able to pick up a breakthrough in the final overs of the day.
Eudunda-Robertstown put up the division’s biggest score with 366 as four players crossed the half century mark, led by Cameron Hawke (82) and Brad Wilksch (79 from 45 deliveries).
Truro will be behind day two at 0/2 and with a large mountain to climb.
In A2, Gawler Central will need to be damaging with the ball early on day two to salvage a result after being bowled out by Long Plains for 124, and failing to make an impact before time was called with the hosts sitting at 0/21.
South Gawler is chasing Hamley Bridge’s 172 after Lions Brayden Fitzpatrick (4/40 from 17 overs) and Justin Waters (4/35) both showed their class, with Thomas Smith (61) the only home player to do any real damage.
In A3, Lyndoch put up the highest score in the division while hosting Tanunda, with Ryan Muirhead (49), Stewart Herring (40) and Brendan Irvine (40) helping carrying their side to 189.
In A4, Willaston took top spot in the ladder after Morgan fell to Lyndoch by four wickets in its 40-over fixture.
In A5, Angaston came through in the final over of the day to beat Light Pass by two wickets in a game which Member for Schubert Stephan Knoll took a catch in the field, and scored two runs as a tail-ender in the chase.