Bottom side Marong is in the box seat to record its first win of the season after the opening day of round fur of the EVCA.
A five-wicket haul by spinner Greg Toomey put the Panthers on top of home side California Gully.
Toomey took 5-31 off 13.5 overs as Marong dismissed the Cobras for 168. Skipper Marcus McKern (43) and Jordan Knight (40) were the only Panthers batsmen to fire with the bat.
Cal Gully lost its final six wickets for just 28 runs.
Marong's openers survived 12 overs before stumps and took 17 runs off the target.
Maiden Gully Marist's batsmen found form at the right time against league leader Sedgwick.
Half-centuries to Glen Oliver (88 not out) and Matt Felini (74) set up MGM's imposing total of 8-286 off 75 overs.
Felini did the damage early, striking 12 boundaries in his 77-ball knock. Oliver kept the innings together through the middle stages and then added an invaluable unbroken stand of 42 runs for the ninth wicket with Shane Rabbitt (15 not out).
The Rams shared the wickets around, with professional golfer Lucas Herbert taking 1-22 off five overs in a cameo appearance for the club.
West Bendigo opening bowler Tarran Kilcullen had a career-best day against United at Ken Wust Oval.
Kilcullen took 7-47 off 16.4 overs as the Redbacks dismissed the free-scoring Tigers for 232 in the 52nd over.
United skipper Harry Whittle belted 66 off 44 balls, including 12 fours and one six, while Dooley Niemann hit three fours and two sixes in his total of 36.
By stumps the game was evenly poised with West Bendigo 3-43.
Mandurang's bowlers continued their good form to restrict Emu Creek to 179.
All six bowlers used took at least on wicket, with James Pietromonaco leading the way with 3-40 off 16 overs.
At one stage Emu Creek slipped to 8-108 before Jeremy Hancock (39) and Dallas Widdicombe (21 not out) added some respectability to the total.
Emu Creek opening bowler Anthony Collins struck twice early before Mandurang settled to be 2-45 at stumps.
Spring Gully will push for an outright victory next week after claiming first innings points against Axe Creek.
Axe Creek made a bright start to be 0-46, but the loss of opener Dean Comensoli (16) sparked a stunning collapse.
Spring Gully's Liam Pilcher (5-12) tore through the Axe Creek top-order as the visitors lost 10-33 to be all out for 79. Opener Ash Dixon (37) nearly batted through the innings.
Spring Gully then raced to 3-117 off 26 overs, with Shaun Makepeace opening the batting and making 52.
After two centuries in his previous two games, Rhys Webb fell for 24.
Read more: Record wicket-taking haul by BDCA paceman
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