By Tara Murray
Bacchus Marsh has taken a step closer to sealing the minor premiership in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association women’s league.
The Bulls hosted Darley on Sunday, with the match not only a local battle but a match up between the top two teams.
The Bulls continued to fire with the bat to set up a massive win.
Bulls captain-coach Tomeka Fowlie said it was a really good performance.
“They are a great team,” she said. “We made almost 300 last week which was a record and we have set ourselves some high targets when we go out to bat and make as many runs as possible.”
The Bulls top order set up the Bulls score as they made 3-261.
Sisters Ashley Gillard (62) and Sarah Bamford (70 not out retired) got them off to a flying start.
Fowlie made 70 not out retired as well.
The captain said they knew they had plenty of people down the order that could contribute.
“Ash and Sarah led the way for us,” she said. “Emily [Kennedy] and Stella [Blaikie] have come in and are really good with the bat.
“I’ve had a good run as well. The top five are really solid and everyone else in the bottom half is happy to have a crack.”
Fowlie said when they feel they can, they’ve moved the order around to give some players a bit more opportunity.
She said they want everyone to get their chance to show what they can do.
Having put the runs on the board, the Bulls bowlers then had a task ahead of them.
The Lions fell well short, restricted to 5-163.
Kim Bessell was the key for the Lions and while she made 68 it wasn’t with the same force as some of her other innings.
Fowlie said they had made a big focus of trying to restrict Bessell.
“She is one of a kind and she can take the game away from you,” she said. “Obviously we wanted to get her out early.
“When it didn’t happen we worked around her and got the other person on strike. We had a good plan against Kim and it showed.”
Kennedy took three wickets for the Bulls off her six overs.
The Bulls are now two games and massive percentage ahead of second placed Darley with two rounds remaining.
Fowlie said the group was happy to be in the top part of the competition for a second straight season after being towards the bottom the first few years.
The Bulls face Kilmore this Sunday in the second last round.
“It’s more about giving everyone a go,” Fowlie said of that game. “We then play Gisborne at home and we want to put our best foot forward.
“We’ll play it by ear and see what happens. We just want everyone to enjoy it.”
Meanwhile in the Ballarat Cricket Association, Darley claimed the win against Buninyong and Bacchus Marsh lost to Wendouree.
With two rounds remaining Bacchus Marsh sits in fourth and Darley in seventh, eight points behind them.
