Bacchus Marsh is in the box seat after smashing 6-261 on the opening day of the Gisborne District Cricket match against Gisborne.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the home side after it won the toss.
The wickets of openers Peter Lalor and Jack Lalor, both without scoring, left the Bulls in trouble at 2-1.
Then the middle order rallied, Cameron McKinley and David Dickinson combining for a 50-run partnership.
The pattern of a small partnership followed by a wicket continued throughout the afternoon until the Bulls reached 6-114 and the lower-order combination of Tom McColl and Ian Spiteri turned the game.
The pair shared a potentially match- winning stand of 147, Spiteri smashing his way to 88 and McColl finishing on 51 to give the Bulls day one honours.
For Gisborne, Jarryd Vernon was the only multiple wicket-taker, with 2-81 from 29 overs.
The news was also good for Bacchus Marsh in B-grade, with the Bulls poised to make it two from two for its top teams.
The club’s second XI will be chasing Diggers Rest Bulla’s modest 138 when the match resumes this weekend.
Shaun Taylor, Tom Cotton and Andrew Dickinson set up the Bulls on day one, taking two wickets each.
Meanwhile, Burnside Springs was left to rue a poor first-day batting display in its loss to Kealba Green Gully in the North West Metro association.
The Springs managed just 106 before being bowled out at Green Gully Reserve on the previous weekend.
Green Gully returned to chase down the total on day two, bringing up the win for the loss of just four wickets.
But from 4-123, Green Gully collapsed to be all out for 161, Taimur Cheema doing most of the damage with 7-49.
Burnside smashed 8-205 in its second innings before play was called off.
After seven matches Burnside is in seventh place on the George Luscombe Shield ladder with just one win for the year.
The Springs will take on fourth-place Gladstone Park this week.
