The Crabs bundled Hawkesdale out for 109, with Damian Jones (4-28 from 19 overs) and Peter Hickey (3-11 from 10 overs) on target.

By stumps, Killarney had raced to 1-75, with Joel Henry unbeaten on 51 and Brendan Chatfield on 15.

The fourth-placed Crabs entered the match just percentage ahead of Purnim but only three points behind second-placed Grassmere.

Purnim has top side Yambuk under pressure, needing 120 runs with nine wickets in hand to claim an upset.

The Bulls dismissed Yambuk for 132, thanks to a lion-hearted performance from paceman Luke Ryan. Ryan, bowling in tandem with his brother Daniel (1-20 off 13 overs), took 5-49 off 21.4 overs.

In reply, Purnim is 1-13.

Purnim captain-coach Greg Bull said his side was not getting carried away with one good day.

“I would have taken that (132) at the start of the day,” he said. “But it’s an awkward total to chase. I would say it’s evenly poised.”

Bull said his batsmen had to be positive when play resumed at Purnim Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

“We have to go out with a mindset of it being 200, he said. “They have a very good bowling line-up. It’s definitely a good challenge and we have to get through the first 10 or 15 overs and hopefully not lose any more wickets. You still have to be play your shots and be positive.”

Yambuk batted star opener Steve Gleeson at number six as it looked to manage his workload before yesterday’s one-day final but he retired hurt with just 14 to his name after captain Dan Oakley top scored with 49.

In other games, Panmure erased any doubts about its batting consistency, belting 7-324 against Wangoom.

Daniel Meade made an unbeaten 79 batting at number seven, while Ben Meade was unbeaten on 44 after they shared in an unbroken 90-run stand for the eighth wicket. Chris Bant made 58.

Mailors Flat is in trouble in its match against Grassmere, dismissed for 108. Only Alex Goudy got going with the bat, making an unbeaten 41. Grassmere resumes at 0-3.