BIG scores were the order of the day in MPCA District Shield with the team batting first piling up more than
250 in five of the six matches.
Carrum smacked 9-290 against the heavily fancied Seaford, Hastings amassed 5-277 against Balnarring, Tyabb was the most impressive for the afternoon with 299 against Frankston YCW, Mt Eliza made 258 against Red Hill and Delacombe Park bounced back with 280 against Main Ridge.
In the final game, neighbours Rye and Boneo are locked in a tight struggle.
The Demons pulled off a miraculous outright win last round after scoring a little over 100 in the first innings.
When they resume this Saturday, they will be five wickets down, needing just 22 more to win the match.
Rye bundled out the home side for just 101, Mark Maddock the only batsman to make an impression with 28. Ryan Jellie was the second best with 21. Alex Petrovic (10) and Stuey Peck (12) were the only other Boneo batsmen to make it to double figures.
The Rye bowlers were completely on top, Adeel Hussain causing major problems for the batsmen early in the innings, snaring four wickets, while Aaron Vernon and Travis Sawers picked up three wickets each.
Rye faced 29 overs after lunch and lost five wickets.
Rick Gough was the star of the show for Tyabb in its massive innings against YCW. Unfortunately, the top-order batsman was removed just three runs short of his century. Luke Rus was among the runs again with an unbeaten 50 and Jarrod White was impressive with 46. YCW's Craig Burch worked extremely hard all afternoon and was rewarded with six wickets, while Ryan McQueen snared 2-63.
Justin Grant was the top scorer for Mt Eliza in its match against Red Hill. Grant scored 58, while Michael Andrews and Simon Andrews picked up 47 and 36 respectively. Matt Nelson scored 43.
Red Hill toiled hard all day; Terry Doyle was the best of the bowlers with 5-52, Brent Martin snared 3-28 and Luke Doyle took 2-49.
Gun cricketer Nick Christides added another century to his long list of achievements in MPCA cricket, steering his side Delacombe Park to a big score of 280.
With good support from Steven Anderson (37) and Evan Campbell (34), the Parkers are in the box seat, especially considering they have Main Ridge 1-1 overnight.
Jason Albress was the best of the Ridge bowlers with 5-74 while Steve Hamill snared 3-63.
Seaford is going to need to be at its very best to get 300 against Carrum. The Lions have a good bowling attack and getting the runs may be tough. Seaford's bowlers worked hard - Travis Creaney the best of them with 4-56, while Andrew McMannis and Faisal Payenda picked up two wickets each.
Hastings' Rob Phillips fell 14 short of his first century for the season against Balnarring. Phillips certainly set the scene for the Blues with 86, while receiving outstanding support from Trevor Johnston with 63, Darren Kerr with 42 and Sajith Kodituwakku 42, helping to amass 5-277.
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