Eastern Hill prevailed over Tallarook in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash in Seymour District Cricket Association action at the weekend.
The Eagles travelled to Tallarook and walked away with the bragging rights after a tense and nervous 11-run victory to remain locked in top spot on the A-grade ladder.
A superb all-round bowling display for the ladder-leader was enough to restrict the second-ranked outfit in the competition to 145 from 41 overs.
Each of Eastern Hill’s six bowlers chalked up a scalp, with Jake Sutherland the man of the moment with 3-17 from his seven overs.
Teammates Ben Bryant and Dallas Bergowicz were phenomenal in the outfield with three catches apiece.
Tallarook’s captain Lachlan Watts almost did enough with a crucial 38-run knock as he and Ben Tarran combined for an important 73-run partnership.
But Eastern Hill’s stellar bowling and classy fielding was enough to defend its total of 6-156.
Oliver Bryant (34 runs) and Brayden Speechley (33) were the standout performers with the bat for Eastern Hill.
With three rounds left in the season, the heat is cranking on which team is able to finish in top spot.
The two outfits will meet once more before the end of the season, with a round 18 contest pencilled in at Bennet Oval.
Meanwhile, Yea has moved within 12 points of third-placed Broadford following a dominant performance over Seymour.
The Tigers piled on 7-209 after they elected to bat first and followed that effort by rolling Seymour for a miserly 104.
Yea’s Marc Steiner was damaging with ball in hand with 4-8, while Seymour’s Lachlan Drummond battled hard for his 22 with the bat.