It was one of the more interesting weekends of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup season with a couple of upsets, an undefeated run that came to an end and an outright win.
With the race for finals and the battle to avoid relegation heating up, every result is vital in the run home.
Rupertswood had its best win of the season, knocking off Gisborne.
After the bowlers did the job on day one, restricting the Dragons to 162, Rupo’s batsmen shared the job around.
All of Rupo’s top order made a start and they looked to be in control at 3-137.
There was soon a few nerves for Rupo when they lost 5-28 to see them needing eight runs with two wickets in hand.
They got the job done and the final wicket partnership of 64 took Rupo’s score to 229.
Josh Smith top-scored with 48 not out for the Sharks and Jakson Knight took five wickets for the Dragons.
Coming off its worst performance of the year, Woodend knocked off the previously undefeated Riddell. Woodend resumed at 2-12, needing 168 for victory.
The runs kept ticking over for Woodend, but the wickets were also falling and Woodend needed 20 runs with two wickets in hand.
Nathan Dugdale-Walker and Jamie Pettigrew guided their team past the target and Woodend was eventually all out for 183.
Riddell was 0-48 in its second innings, with Cam Moran hitting a quick-fire 38 which included three fours and three sixes.
And Bacchus Marsh, which has looked on track for outright wins several times this season, finally came away with the full points against Sunbury.
The Bulls needed just eight runs on day two to get first innings points and they did that with ease before declaring at 5-182 with a lead of 77. Peter Lalor finished 101 not out.
Sunbury was all out for 115 and Heath Boffey top-scored with 35. The Bulls made the winning runs one wicket down, finishing 1-40.
The win and Riddell’s loss means the Bulls sit nearly 14 points clear on top, ahead of a top-two clash, while Sunbury slipped to sixth.
In other matches, Sunbury United held out against Diggers Rest Bulla to avoid an outright loss.
Having already conceded first innings points on day one, United put in a better performance with the bat. United made 264 in its second innings. Ryan Billinghurst made 63.
Romsey kept the pressure on the top-four sides with a strong win against Lancefield.
Resuming at 4-77 in reply to Lancefield’s 140, Romsey made 7-259 and skipper Ben Way made his second straight century and fourth of the season. Romsey sent Lancefield back in as it hunted an outright win. The Tigers held strong, finishing 9-133. The Tigers are on the bottom of the ladder with two rounds remaining.
