After breaking a 20-game winless streak last Saturday, Axe Creek backed up that performance by comfortably defeating the previously undefeated Panthers.

It was the first time in seven years that Axe Creek has won two division one matches in a row.

Just like the win over Sedgwick last round, Axe Creek's victory over Marong was set up by its bowlers.

The Panthers were bowled out for just 105 in 30.2 overs. Opener Alex Gorrie (34 off 40 balls) was the only Marong batter to show any resistance.

Jakk Trenfield (3-23), the in-form Ash Dixon (3-30) and Luke Hickman (2-17) made life tough for the Panthers.

Joel Bish (62 retired) and Dixon (51 retired) sealed the win for an Axe Creek side that jumped to sixth place on the ladder - the club's highest position on the ladder through five games since the club last made the finals in the summer of 2014-15.

An unbroken stand of 63 for the ninth wicket lifted Mandurang to a stunning victory over reigning premier Emu Creek.

Chasing 162 for victory, Mandurang looked down and out when it slumped to 8-103 with 10 overs remaining.

Cain Ladiges and Jeremy Hancock combined to steer Mandurang to an unlikely victory.

The duo needed 17 runs off the final two overs to win the game and they achieved that goal with a couple of balls to spare.

A six from Hancock in the penultimate over bowled by Jeremy Brown and then a boundary from Ladiges off the first delivery of Simon Marwood's final over gave Mandurang the edge, before Hancock scored a single off the fourth ball to clinch victory.

Ladiges made 69 not out off 80 balls and Hancock finished 24 not out.

Skipper Corey Dickins (32 and 3-20) had a fine all-round game for Mandurang.

Emu Creek's score of 161 was built around Luke Bennett (46) and Todd Brown (40).

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United had a day out with the bat against West Bendigo at Ewing Park.

The Tigers blasted 4-264 from their 40 overs which was highlighted by some heavy hitting late in the innings.

Broderick Williams (34 off 31 balls) got the Tigers off to a good start before Alex Code and Tom Calvert (61 off 62 balls) added 100 for the fourth wicket.

At 4-166 the stage was set for skipper Harry Whittle to pin his ears back down the stretch and that's exactly what he did.

Code (75 not out off 79 balls) and Whittle (47 not out off 26 balls) added 98 runs off the final 52 balls of the innings.

Code hit seven fours and one six in his innings, while Whittle belted three fours and three sixes.

In reply, West Bendigo batted solidly to get through its 40 overs, but United's target was never in trouble.

Tom Floyd (51 not out off 73 balls) and Travis O'Connell (38 off 47 balls) led the Redbacks to 7-194 off 40 overs.

Mac Whittle (2-22) picked up two crucial wickets, while Dooley Niemann (2-21) struck twice late in the day for United.

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Spring Gully was again not at its best, but it did manage to return to the winners' list against an improved Sedgwick.

After losing to Mandurang the week prior, the Crows were in strife again when they fell to 7-107 in reply to the Rams' total of 154.

It took a 61-run stand between Byron Perrin (47 not out off 46 balls) and Shaun O'Shea (21) to ensure the Crows got over the line.

Rhys Webb (46 off 55 balls) was the only player in the Crows' top-order to fire.

The winless Sedgwick was left to lament a wasted opportunity with the bat.

The Rams were 0-60 through 14 overs, but didn't make the most of the bright start and lost 10-94.

Bailey Ilsley (36) and Dustin Elliott (32) top-scored for Sedgwick.

Spring Gully's slower bowlers - Beauden Rinaldi (3-16), Isaac Willits (2-21), Webb (2-27) - were the chief destroyers, while opening bowler O'Shea grabbed 3-33 off seven overs.

Spring Gully 68.34

Mandurang 65.77

United 56.78

Marong 56.27

Emu Creek 37.92

Axe Creek 35.81

West Bendigo 27.93

Sedgwick 11.71

California Gully 10.57

West Bendigo v California Gully

Sedgwick v Marong

United v Mandurang

Emu Creek v Axe Creek

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