A brilliant bowling performance lifted Darley to yet another impressive win in the Ballarat Cricket Association on Saturday.
After setting North Ballarat a target of 169 on the first day at Darley Park, the Lions’ attack further strengthened its reputation as one of the most dangerous bowling line-ups in the competition.
With the likes of Heath Pritchard and Bradley Barnes charging in with the new ball, North Ballarat was quickly on the back foot.
Brodie Bennett was the first to feel the pain, the opener losing his wicket from the first ball of the innings.
The pressure was then applied on the middle-order, with Jason Crosbie (16 from 74 balls), Matthew Zakynthinos (9 from 79) and Leigh Lorenzen (9) next to go. Lorenzen’s removal by Matthew Cape saw the North Ballarat innings crash to 4-37.
But ensuring the chase wouldn’t end without a fight, middle-order pair Ryan Plom (22) and Scott Wright (28) stepped up with a hard-fought partnership of 35.
When Wright was lbw to Pritchard, North Ballarat folded quickly to come to an end on 99.
Barnes finished with the best figures of 3-10 while Pritchard and Cape took two wickets each.
Darley is now in fourth place on the A-grade ladder.
The Lions have had just one two-day loss for the season.
Darley will take on sixth-placed Ballarat/Redan this weekend.
It was also a good weekend for the Darley Second XI which charged to an impressive win against Dunnstown.
After being set just 115 for victory, the Lions passed the total for the loss of five wickets.
Ben Longhurst top-scored for Darley with 38.
