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MORE CRICKET - NUCA GRAND FINAL - Elmore wins first flag for 22 years
MAIDEN Gully's batsmen have held up their end of the bargain as the Lions strive to push their way back into the Emu Valley Cricket Association top four.
Led by an unbeaten century to Alex Gorrie, the Lions posted 6-311 after being sent in at home against West Bendigo on day one of their final round game on Saturday.
The Lions sit two points behind fourth-placed Emu Creek and must win to be any chance of snaring a finals berth.
For the second time this season skipper Gorrie finished 100 n.o. for the Lions - he also did the same against California Gully in round five - as he brought up his century off the second-last ball of the day.
Gorrie came in with the Lions 2-101 in the 25th over and batted for 167 minutes as he struck four boundaries and three sixes.
Gorrie began his innings following the dismissal of opener Matt Felini, who got the Lions off to a flyer with a quickfire 77 off 76 - his fifth score above 50 in 10 hits this season.
Leon Beatty (41) and Dean Trew (33) also ticked the runs over for Maiden Gully, while Shannon Murphy was the leading wicket-taker for West Bendigo with 2-58.
* The strong batting performance of Maiden Gully has turned up the heat on the Emu Creek bowlers in its game against Spring Gully.
With their position in the top four at risk of being nabbed by Maiden Gully if beaten, the Emus are defending 190 against the Crows.
The Emus looked like they would battle to push towards 200 when they were languishing at 6-66.
However, Justin Hancock led a desperately needed late-order revival.
No.9 Hancock cracked 73 off 95 with nine fours and three sixes to give the Emus a fighting chance next week.
Alex Sutton starred with the ball for the Crows, bagging 5-45 off 18.1 overs to take his season tally to 25 wickets.
The Crows will resume their chase next week at 1-11, with the Emus having already removed previous round century-maker Jesse Marciano (6).
* Mandurang skipper James Pietromonaco produced the best bowling figures of his EVCA career with a seven-wicket bag against Axe Creek.
Pietromonaco snared seven of the last eight wickets to fall as he finished with 7-42 off 17.2 overs.
Pietromonaco's seven wickets featured three caught, thee bowled and one caught and bowled.
Jesse Trenfield (52 n.o.), Paul Barber (37) and Dean Comensoli (22) combined to score 111 of Axe Creek's 156 runs.
The Rangas went to stumps at 1-5.
* Dustin Elliott and Jordan Ilsley both scored half-centuries as the Rams overcame the loss of two early wickets to post 9-253 against California Gully.
Elliott compiled 64 and Ilsley 63, including five sixes, to now have 332 runs for the season to go with his 44 wickets.
The Cobras were up and about early when they had the Rams 2-16 in the ninth over, with openers Greg Thomas (9) and Alan Friswell (6) both dismissed.
Captain Marcus McKern picked up the wickets of both Elliott and Ilsley among his season-best figures of 5-75 off 23 overs for the Cobras.
* United restricted Marong to 7-192 off its 75 overs at Malone Park.
The Tigers' seven wickets were shared between Pat Hartney (3-56), skipper Harry Whittle (2-45) and Jarrod Starr (2-39).
Openers Scott Ross (51) and Zach Samuel (42) got the Panthers away to a solid start with a 92-run opening stand as the Tigers took until the 31st over to claim their first wicket.
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