United's Alex Code (133 not out), Spring Gully's Jesse Marciano (100) and Emu Creek's Brett Russell (6-15) produced standout individual performances, but it was Marong who turned heads around the league with a fighting win over Mandurang at Malone Park.

The Panthers' win was set up by opening bowler Amarpreet Singh. who ripped through the highly-touted Mandurang batting line-up.

Singh finished with the superb figures of 4-10 off eight overs as the Panthers rolled Mandurang for just 108.

Linton Colclough (37 off 35 balls), who was coming off a century last round, was the only Mandurang top-order player to find form.

Reuben Cameron (3-15) gave Singh great support with the ball.

Marong's run chase didn't exactly go to plan and it took a fine knock from skipper David Blume to get the Panthers over the line.

The game was up for grabs when the Panthers fell to 5-65 and 6-86, but Blume steadied the ship and finished 44 not out from 66 balls, while some late hitting from Haseeb Qaisar (30 off 14 balls) put the icing on the cake as Marong finished 7-128.

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Emu Creek regained some of its big guns and they proved decisive in the win over West Bendigo.

Todd Brown, Tyrone Downie and Brent Downie played their first games of the season in the 36-run win.

After opener Luke Bennett got the Emu Creek ball rolling with 45 off 49 balls, Brown made 69 off 68 balls, Tyrone Downie belted a brisk 56 off 38 deliveries and Brent Downie chipped in with an unbeaten 34 off 28 balls.

Emu Creek's total of 6-244 off 40 overs was always going to be a tough chase for the home side, but the Redbacks gave themselves a chance with a slick start.

Bodee Scullie and Fraser Gentry scored 46 runs off the first 28 balls of the innings before Scullie fell for 31 off 16 balls.

Gentry hit 10 boundaries in his 53 off 49 balls and when he departed the Redbacks were still in a good position at 2-118 after 18 overs.

Tom Floyd (37) and Josh Eatley added 51 for the third wicket, but Eastley's dismissal for 23 sparked the beginning of the end for West Bendigo.

From 3-180 they lost their final seven wickets for just 28 runs as Emu Creek medium-pacer Brett Russell put the game to bed with a stunning spell.

Russell claimed 6-15 off 6.4 overs as the Redbacks were bowled out for 208.

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United overcame a couple of hairy moments to defeat California Gully.

The Cobras made a bright start with the bat to put United on the back foot, but once openers Justin Bice and Jordan Knight were dismissed the innings fell away.

Bice (37 off 43 balls) and Knight (32 off 75 balls) top scored in the total of 9-137.

James Smith (3-26), Mitch Whittle (3-33) and Kane Goldsowrthy (2-15) did the damage with the ball for the Tigers.

United's reply started poorly when openers Broderick Williams and Goldsowrthy both fell cheaply.

From 2-12 the game became the 'Alex Code Show'.

The right-hander belted an unbeaten 133 from 121 balls, including 18 fours and two sixes.

Code added 131 with Tom Calvert (49 off 63 balls) and 90 with skipper Harry Whittle (48 off 35 balls).

The Tigers finished 5-250 off their 40 overs.

In the final game of the round, Spring Gully outclassed Axe Creek.

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Nick Skeen (3-15) was the chief wicket-taker as the Crows dismissed Axe Creek for just 73.

Spinners Beauden Rinaldi (2-9) and Isaac Willits (2-11) played their role with the ball.

Spring Gully responded with 7-214 from 40 overs.

Batting at number three, Marciano clubbed 100 off 76 balls, including 16 fours and three sixes.

Veteran Byron Perrin relished the opportunity to spend time in the middle and he belted 71 off just 36 balls, including eight fours and four sixes.

Khushdeep Randhwa (3-55) was Axe Creek's best performer on the day, while young paceman Jakk Trenfield bowled well against the odds and had figures of 1-19 off eight overs.

Spring Gully 49.69

United 40.74

Marong 39.06

Mandurang 34.81

West Bendigo 22.41

Emu Creek 19.32

California Gully 7.02

Sedgwick 5.21

Axe Creek 4.93

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