ROUND four of the Emu Valley Cricket Association proved productive for Spring Gully and United, with both scoring outright victories on Saturday.
Spring Gully inflicted the second outright defeat on Axe Creek in the opening four rounds as the Crows continued their unbeaten start to the season.
The Crows already had first innings points in the bag having started day two at 3-117 in reply to the Cowboys' 79.
Spring Gully batted on for a further 21.4 overs and added 98 runs before declaring at 5-215 following the dismissal of top-scorer Lachlan Brook (73).
The Spring Gully declaration left the Crows with a lead of 136, which was 20 more than the Cowboys could muster in their second innings as they were bowled out for 116.
All-rounder Rhys Webb (3-26) and James Fox (3-36) both took three wickets for the Crows, who took 50 overs to bowl Axe Creek out for a second time.
Connor Bulger's 19 was the top score for the Cowboys, who across their two innings lost 13 of their 20 wickets for single figure scores in what's proving a mighty tough initiation back into the top division for Axe Creek.
* United's Joe Hartney, captain Harry Whittle and Mac Whittle shared 19 wickets between them in the Tigers' outright victory over West Bendigo at Ken Wust Oval.
With 232 on the board, the Tigers twice dismissed the Redbacks cheaply for scores of 79 and 90.
Hartney bagged 5-34 in the first innings before adding 3-27 in the second for a match-haul of 8-61 off 29.3 overs.
Harry Whittle claimed 4-19 in the first dig and 2-8 in the second; while Mac Whittle's 1-5 in the first innings was followed with 4-20 in the second.
Mac Whittle also completed a superb piece of play in the second innings with a direct hit run out of Paul Colbert (3).
The only score above 20 across the two innings for the Redbacks was opener Connor Robertson's 32 in the second as he occupied the crease for 111 balls.
The Redbacks lost 16 of their 20 wickets for single figure scores in the match.
* Maiden Gully retained its unbeaten record while inflicting the first defeat of the season on reigning premier Sedgwick.
Maiden Gully's 8-286 proved beyond the Rams, who were all out for 210 in reply as the Lions' Matt Felini produced a superb double.
Having last week cracked 74 opening the batting, veteran Felini - the sixth bowler used - dominated with the ball with a bag of 6-23 off 9.1 overs after being called up from the seconds.
For the third time in four innings this season Sedgwick opener Alan Friswell made a half-century, compiling 79 off 125 balls.
* A seven-wicket haul from the evergreen Anthony Collins delivered Emu Creek its first victory of the season against Mandurang.
Collins was at his wily best taking 7-60 as the Rangas were dismissed for 111 in reply to the Emus' 179.
Bowling for the first time this season, Collins' seven wickets featured three bowled, two lbw and two caught.
Collins now has eight career hauls of at least five wickets for the Emus.
Opener Linton Colclough (34) and Beau Roy-Clements (32) scored the bulk of the runs for the Rangas.
Emu Creek enjoyed some centre wicket practice with a 45-over second innings, making 149.
* Marong won its first game of the season, defeating California Gully by three wickets.
The Panthers answered the Cobras' 168 with 7-172.
David Blume (75) proved the mainstay of the Marong innings, while Brad Webster (3-31 off 21) was the pick of the bowlers for the Cobras.
ROUND 5
November 23-24
Maiden Gully v California Gully
Mandurang v West Bendigo
Marong v Axe Creek
United v Spring Gully
Sedgwick v Emu Creek
TOP CLUB PERFORMERS AFTER FOUR ROUNDS:
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