Skipper Mark Murphy and 14-year-old Sam Alberts survived 17 overs at Jetty Flat last Saturday and will resume at 0-37, in pursuit of Creek’s 192.

Murphy is 11 not out. But outpacing him is Alberts, who showed maturity beyond his years to finish unbeaten on 20 opening for the first time.

Murphy yesterday declared the teenager would retain the role in weeks to come as the Broncos sought to establish an effective opening pair.

“Jethro Serle has been opening and hasn’t really contributed on the scoreboard. He’s faced a few overs but hasn’t made a lot of runs,” he said. 

“We have a lot of middle-order bats but no one who can really score early on and bat within themselves.

“I spoke to (Alberts’) old man about it and he said he’d seize the opportunity, to give it a go anyway. Sam really listens to me. 

“He makes runs at junior level and knows how to face the new ball and he did that on Saturday.”

Murphy said he was “pretty confident” the Broncos could secure victory.

He was pleased to restrict Creek to 192 on the batsman-friendly ground. Only Jayaweera Bandara (103) capitalised on the conditions.

“We’re starting to get a bit of belief in the team,” Murphy said.

“It helps when you’ve got a 14-year-old smashing boundaries when we’re wanting to see out the day. You can see the look around the place. People are saying ‘if he can do it, I can do it’.”

East started the round sitting fourth on the Merri conference ladder with 10 points, two behind third-ranked Creek. 

The Broncos won all three of their Twenty20 matches but saluted just once in five one-day matches which followed.

In other Merri conference matches, ladder-leader Woodford has the task of chasing West Warrnambool’s 216 at Jack Keane Oval.

Port Fairy will begin its second dig against Wesley-CBC having already claimed first-innings points on day one at Avery’s Paddock.

The Pirates made just 122 but were celebrating hours later after routing the Beavers for 74. An attempt at an outright win is a possibility.

In the Hopkins conference, Dennington has the ascendency in its clash with Merrivale at Merrivale. The Dogs dismissed the Tigers for 174 last weekend.  Brierly-Christ Church needs 328 to cause one of the upsets of the season against ladder leader Allansford at Brierly.

Nestles is within sight of victory against Nirranda. 

The Factory is 1-56 and needs another 41 runs for first-innings points.