Darley has a fight on its hands if it’s to win its first Ballarat Cricket Association premiership.
The Lions conceded first-innings points on the first weekend of the grand final against Wendouree.
Both sides looked good with the bat at times, before the bowlers stepped to the fore.
Lions captain-coach Heath Pritchard knows the situation could be a lot worse.
Batting first, Wendouree made 268, with Pritchard taking five wickets.
The Lions made 203 after a middle order collapse cost them dearly.
Lachlan Herring, Hasitha Wickramasinghe, Matt Cape and Ben Longhurst all made 40s for the Lions.
The rest of the batsmen made 25 between them.
“We were staring at chasing 320 at one point so to restrict them to 268 was a really good performance,” Pritchard said.
“Then we were 0-70 and looking good before we lost a couple of wickets and a couple of decisions didn’t go our way.
“The tail then responded to get us to 200.”
The Lions had the opportunity to bowl four overs at Wendouree late on day two.
They got the perfect start with Pritchard snaring nightwatchman Sam Jackson for a duck.
Pritchard said that despite conceding first-innings points, he was proud of how his side responded on a number of occasions during the opening two days.
“They haven’t given up,” he said. “There’s a lot of character in this group and I couldn’t be prouder.
“We bowled really well and the openers batted well.
“Matt Cape was dropped early on and made them pay, and Ben Longhurst was really important.”
The Lions, in their first grand final since moving to the BCA, are ready for the fight that awaits them next week.
Pritchard knows if things go their way they could get the reverse outright win.
“We need a few early wickets next week,” he said.
“If we keep them under the 240, 250 or even 260, we think that’s something we can chase on the final day.
“If if gets to over 300 it will be very difficult to get the runs.
“We’re not ahead in the game, but we’re not out of it.
“We know we can bat a lot better than 206 in the second innings.”
The Lions’ under-16 side celebrated a premiership with victory against Napoleons-Sebastopol.
The Lions lost a single wicket chasing down Napoleons-Sebastopol’s 108.
Bryce Galea top scored with 54 before retiring to give the other batsmen a chance at the crease.
