The Redbacks had started the day at 4-91 chasing the Crows’ 145 at Ken Wust Oval.

Having already rescued the Redbacks from a precarious 4-20 last week, Travis O’Connell and Gary Singh finished the job for West Bendigo as they steered their side over the line.

O’Connell scored an unbeaten 102 in the Redbacks’ 5-213 declared, while Singh just fell short of what would have been his second ton of the season when he was dismissed for 93.

O’Connell and Singh put on 191 for the fifth wicket in their match-winning partnership.

Liam Pilcher took 3-61 for the Crows, with all his wickets coming last week.

Spring Gully’s batting woes continued in its second innings when the Crows were bundled out in the 28th over for just 105.

It would have been much worse for the Crows had skipper Alex Sutton not made 51, while Ankur Aneja (18) was the only other player to make double-figures.

Saturday was the sixth time this season the Crows have been bowled out for less than 150.

Bradley McHugh (3-35) and Scott Ryan (3-15) took three wickets each for the Redbacks.

After routing the Crows, it left the Redbacks needing just 38 runs for outright points.

It took nine overs for the Redbacks to score the runs required as they made 1-42 to get their season back on track heading into the break.

Captain Joel Purdy (22 n.o.) and Dion Prange (20 n.o.) were not out.

• After two losses in a row, reigning premier United returned to the winner’s list following a tight 11-run victory over Sedgwick.

Chasing the Tigers’ 256 at Ewing Park, the Rams were bowled out for 245.

The run-chase got off to a solid start when openers Zac Poole (58) and Damien Coppock (48) shared in a 67-run stand for the first wicket.

However, after the partnership was broken by Luke O’Sullivan (1-47), the Tigers were able to take wickets at crucial times to keep the pressure on the Rams.

Dustin Elliott (35), the evergreen Scott McKenzie (43 n.o.) and captain Rick Ladson (22) all worked hard to build on the foundation laid by the openers, but it was the Tigers who proved too good.

Recruit Andrew Duguid was the best of the United bowlers, taking 3-48 off 16 overs, while Kevin Archbold (2-35) and Josh White (2-17) claimed two each.

Among Archbold’s wickets was the big scalp of Rams’ X-factor Matt Dwyer (5).

United squared its ledger at 3-3, while the Rams are now 4-2.

• A century to Joel Bish helped guide Axe Creek to its third win in a row as the Cowboys answered Marong’s 295 with 339 at Champions IGA Oval.

Opener Bish crunched 16 boundaries in his 112 to play the starring role in an innings that had plenty of batsmen contribute.

Grant Le Poidevin batted well again in making 60 to take his tally of runs for the season to 300.

Six other players scored in double figures for the Cowboys in what was their highest score since they made 361 against United in the final round of the 2012-13 season.

The Cowboys have now won three games in a row for the first time since their last premiership season of 2008-09.

Jeremy Ross’ fine season with the ball continued for Marong as he took 4-43 off 18 overs. All four of his wickets were lbw.

• Mandurang has reached the mid-season break unbeaten.

The Rangas defeated Emu Creek by 58 runs at JG Edwards Oval.

The Rangas resumed at 3-97 in pursuit of the Emus’ 155 and passed their target five wickets down before being bowled out for 213.

Warrick Behrens top-scored for the Rangas with 35 off 55.

Michael Healy added 28 off 26, while No.11 Mark Roberts remained unbeaten on 19.

Simon Marwood (4-60) and Anthony Collins (4-50) both took four wickets for the Emus, who scored 6-113 off 33 overs in their second innings.

The Emus had been 3-7 after Mandurang’s Cain Ladiges (3-19) dominated early.

Emus’ opener Brad Rowe survived the early Rangas’ onslaught to finish 70 n.o. 

• Maiden Gully staved off Golden Gully’s outright attempt at California Gully Oval.

The Gully resumed at 0-12 in their second innings and were staring at the prospect of a third outright loss of the season when they crashed to 8-84.

But a gritty 98 from No.8 Lachlan Mickan pushed Maiden Gully’s score to 188.

Golden Gully’s Brad Webster took 3-50 off 18 overs to end the match with 10 wickets, while Travis Nolan (3-22) also took three wickets.

Needing 173 runs in its second innings to win outright, Golden Gully was 3-91 off 10 overs at stumps.

Opener Nathan Shatwell scored an unbeaten 47.