A middle-order collapse dented Darley’s chances as Brown Hill won by 90 runs in Ballarat Cricket Association first grade on Saturday.
Dealing with Shane Harwood (4-13 off 14.3 overs) proved a challenge too great for Darley’s bats, with the Lions all-out 177 in reply to Brown Hill’s 7-267.
Lachlan Herring (51) and Jake Wilkie (31) did have Darley building a solid foundation at 1-86, but both departed in a 5-30 collapse that cruelled the Lions’ chase.
Rohan Parag (52) tried to resurrect the chase while batting with the tail, but his departure, bowled by Harwood, came in a three-wicket spurt to end the game.
Darley is away at Ballarat-Redan next in a two-dayer starting this Saturday.
In division 1, Ballan’s Mick Loughnane top scored with 91 to lead a 61-run win against Dunnstown.
Ballan made 4-208 after being sent in, with Jarryd Graham (50no) also among the runs.
The Dunnstown batsman all failed to pass 30 in the chase, with David Gardiner (3-32) best of the Ballan bowlers.
