Bacchus Marsh continued its late-season surge in the Gisborne District Cricket Association on Saturday.
The Bulls smashed top-of-the-table Riddell during day one of their match and will be hunting an outright victory when play resumes this week.
After losing the toss and being forced to bowl first, the Bacchus Marsh attack never gave the batting side a chance to settle.
Pace pair Tom McColl and James Bailey set the standard early before Rhys Watson and Mark Hooper ripped through Riddells’ middle-order.
Watson and Hooper combined for figures of 6-25 from 18 overs to leave the batting side in tatters.
Riddell was eventually bowled out for 92 in the 45th over.
With plenty of time still left in the day’s play, Bacchus Marsh began its run chase.
Despite losing Peter Lalor for a duck, the Bulls had no trouble against the small target.
Bacchus Marsh brought up the win for the loss of just two wickets. The Bulls finished the day 16 runs ahead, with Ben Robertson and Ian Spiteri, the not-out batsmen, on 41 and 34 respectively.
Going into the round 13 clash, Bacchus Marsh was in sixth spot on the McIntyre Cup ladder, six points behind the fourth-placed Gisborne.
With Gisborne in a commanding position after day one of its clash against Wallan, the Bulls will need an outright win to keep their finals hopes alive.
GDCA B-grade
A final-wicket partnership of 49 between Tom Dickinson and Chris Amphlett helped take Bacchus Marsh from a good position to a commanding one.
Prior to the pair coming together, the Bulls were 9-197 against East Sunbury. They went on to make 247.
Although the Bulls are out of the B-grade finals race, wins in their final two games could lift the club to as high as sixth on the ladder.
