Darley’s match against Mt Clear is evenly poised after the first day of their Ballarat Cricket Association two-day match.
Both sides started in form, sitting one and two on the ladder after three rounds.
Mt Clear decided to bat first on their home pitch, making the most of the short boundaries by hitting 26 boundaries in their total of 214 off 65.3 overs.
While the score is more than the Lions have had to chase in the past couple of years, skipper Heath Pritchard said they were happy restricting Mt Clear as they did.
“It was a pretty small ground,” he said. “And 214, I’m happy with that score to chase. Shots were either ones or fours – miss-hits were going for fours and sixes – I thought we bowled really well.”
Pritchard was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5-53 off 17.4 overs. He took five of the last six wickets.
Despite his own figures, Pritchard was full of praise for the other bowlers.
“Matt Cape bowled well and got the early breakthrough, and the spinners bowled well, despite shots going for boundaries.
“I thought Brad Barnes bowled well in his second spell … which helped me get my wickets.”
In reply, the Lions made 0-30 at stumps. Lachlan Herring will resume at 16 not-out and Jake Wilkie on 10.
“We batted well, and to finish the day at 0-30, ended a good performance for the day. If we bat well next week, we’ll get the win.”
The only downside on Saturday for the Lions was an injury to Pritchard. After opening the batting, he retired hurt for two.
“I had a little hammy twinge,” he said.
“I hurt it going off for a single, and it was a bit hard to run, It wasn’t worth doing more damage with not many overs left in the day.”
If the Lions get the win, it’ll be their third of the season so far, having already knocked off last season’s premiers Golden Point.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do,” Pritchard said. “Mt Clear is one of the better sides and, if we get the win, we’ve got wins over the premiers and a side that made the semi-finals.
“Hopefully, a win will set us on our way.”
