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MORE CRICKET - Sole runs riot for Suns with 8-22 in outright win over Goers
EMU Creek is sitting in the Emu Valley Cricket Association's top four for the first time this season after snatching fourth position from Maiden Gully on Saturday.
With fourth spot entering the final round on the line, the Emus won by 67 runs.
Defending 234 at JG Edwards Oval, the Emus dismissed Maiden Gully for 167.
The Emus struck early, reducing the Lions to 3-19 and held the upper hand for the remainder of the day.
Anthony Collins (4-24) claimed the early scalps of openers Matt Felini (11) and Brodie Pearce (0) among his four wickets to be the best of the bowlers for the Emus, who after going winless in their first three games are now 7-2 in their past nine.
Conversely, Maiden Gully, which was unbeaten after seven rounds, has hit the skids at the wrong time of the season with just one win from its past five games.
Brett Haw's 37 was the top score for the Lions, whose best partnership was the 52-run stand between captain Alex Gorrie (31) and Leon Beatty (27).
* Spring Gully maintained top spot on the ladder, defeating Sedgwick by 78 runs.
The Rams batted out their 75 overs, but could muster just 9-212 in reply to the Crows' 9-290.
The Crows' successful defence of their target was led by Nick Skeen, who claimed his second six-wicket haul of the season.
Skeen bagged 6-45 off 13 overs to take his season tally to 24 wickets. He also took a six-for (6-41) against Marong in round six.
The Rams had been 8-118, but the last pair of No.11 Patrick Grelis (55) and Declan McMahon (27 n.o.) kept the Crows out on the field for the remainder of the day with a 94-run partnership.
* California Gully broke through for its first win since round one, defeating Mandurang by 82 runs at home.
The Cobras' 269 proved beyond the reach of the Rangas, who were bowled out for 187 in reply.
The star for the Cobras was Shaun O'Shea, who backed up his 55 with the bat on day one with a six-wicket haul.
O'Shea snared 6-44 off 14.5 overs, with four of his scalps unassisted - one caught and bowled and three bowled.
The Rangas had been 2-128 before losing their last eight wickets for 59 runs.
The collapse started with the dismissal of Matt Pask (50), who was caught by Aidan White off O'Shea.
Pask and Beau Roy-Clements (43) put on 90 for the second wicket, with Roy-Clements' innings also ending at the hands of O'Shea.
O'Shea joins Matt Constable and Tim Mannes with the most number of division one five-wicket hauls in the EVCA since 2006-07 - 10.
* United moved into second position with its 143-run win over Axe Creek.
Starting the day at 0-25 in reply to the Cowboys' 131, the Tigers made their highest score of the season, 274.
Joe Hartney (69) notched his first half-century of the season for the Tigers, beginning his innings following a 65-run opening stand between Kris Watt (47) and Jayde Mullane (23).
In what was a solid batting performance the Tigers had seven players score at least 20 as they continued their surge towards finals.
The Cowboys used just four players to bowl their 72.5 overs - Dean Comensoli (4-73 off 23), Blake Hodgskiss (3-115 off 25), Daniel Dixon (2-39 off 11.5) and captain Ash Dixon (1-33 off 13).
* Marong scored a resounding 168-run win over West Bendigo.
Led by veteran spinner Greg Toomey's 5-35, the Panthers bowled the Redbacks out for 185 in reply to their 6-353.
The experienced Travis O'Connell (76 off 72) had the runs ticking over early for the Redbacks, with he and Sam Hitchcock (24) putting on 101 for the first wicket before the innings fell apart.
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