KIAMA Cavaliers appear to be closing in on a spot in the MLC Advice South Coast Cricket Premier League semi-finals, after taking the advantage in their match against Warilla Kookas on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a return to the two-day competition, the Cavs batted soundly on a slow outfield and then bowled superbly to take control.
Meanwhile, competition hot-shots Lake Illawarra and Oak Flats look to be well-positioned for outright points against Shellharbour and Albion Park respectively.
The Cavs won the toss and batted in ideal conditions at Kiama.
However, their progress was slowed by the lush outfield, which hindered quick scoring, but were still able to graft out a competitive 164.
Opener Nathan Barr scored a patient 37, while promising Kookas slow bowler CJ deBruyn was superb, snaring 6-51 off 15.2 overs.
He was well assisted by Gerard Healey and Josh Cuthbert, who took two apiece.
In reply, the Kookas missed a chance to gain a strong position and finished at a disastrous 5-27 off 27 overs.
Glenn Cleary wrecked the top order with three wickets, while youngster Josh Norris grabbed two.
Kookas skipper Craig Bramble opened and is still there on 10, and with Beau Armstrong as support and regular opener Scott Peachman, Ash Kennedy, Healey and Cuthbert still to bat, perhaps all hope is not lost yet.
Oak Flats are within four wickets of inflicting even more pain on premiers Albion Park, after taking the upper-hand on Saturday.
The Rats won the toss and batted at Keith Grey Oval and scored a solid 171, thanks mainly to 44 from skipper Kerry Penfold, Rob Hill (28) and Ryan Chatterton (20), while Matt Lea took three wickets for the Eagles.
In reply, the Park innings is in tatters.
At one stage they were 6-48, but an unbeaten 43 from Pat Plummer had them recover to 6-88, with Hill (3-13) and Nathan Morrow (2-13) the destroyers for Oak Flats.
It's full steam ahead for Lake Illawarra after taking a commanding first innings lead against Shellharbour at Tom Willoughby Oval.
Batting first, the Scorpions innings never really got any traction and they were bundled out for just 69, despite a gutsy 25 from youngster Lachlan Ritchie.
Brendan White was in superb form with the ball for the Lakers, finishing with 6-13 from 10.1 overs.
It didn't take the visitors long to secure first innings points thanks to an opening partnership of 88 between Tony McCabe (48) and Mark Ulcigrai (44).
Scott Ulcigrai continued his excellent season to remain 56 not out, as the Lakers finished the day at 5-189.