Elford was instrumental in the Creekers’ outright win over West Warrnambool on Saturday, producing a result-defining 7-58 spell with the ball.

Russells Creek coach Jayaweera Bandara said Elford’s performance was reward for early-season toil.

“I thought he did the simple things,” he said.

“He bowled nice line and length and kept the ball up.

“He’d been bowling well and not getting wickets.”

Russells Creek dominated West Warrnambool from the outset, restricting the Panthers to 54 on day one.

Shashan Silva, who scored a half century, and Elford guided it to 191 in reply on Saturday.

The Panthers were all out for 102 in their second innings.

A defiant Wesley-CBC batting display snuffed out Merrivale’s hopes of an outright win.

The Beavers responded from their miserly 65 first innings effort with Sam McCosh (31) and Jimmy Dalton (33) steadfast on day two.

Wesley-CBC, which suffered a 10-wicket first innings loss to the Tigers, made 1-80 off 57 overs in their second dig.

Merrivale co-captain Josh Stapleton said the the Tigers’ bowlers tried to break through the Beavers’ barrier.

“Everybody bowled tight but the (Wesley-CBC) boys shut up shop and it was hard against two pretty good bats,” he said. 

Nestles also faced resistence from a determined East Warrnambool-YCW on its way to a four-wicket win.

The Factory made 176 to be 55 runs ahead before the Broncos knuckled down in their second innings.

“They batted the rest of the day and made 8-80,” Nestles captain Geoff Williams said.

“It was a really good track. You couldn’t falter the work of the curator at the Jones (Oval).

“We bowled nice line and length and they were able to keep it out. We dropped a couple of chances once they were five down and got a little flat.

“Luke Wilson, who is only 14 or 15, hung around which was a positive sign for them.”

Woodford captain Nick Butters praised opening bowlers Hank Schlaghecke (3-17) and Connor Richardson (4-22) for their efforts in the Eels’ 89-run win over Brierly-Christ Church.

“To have them six or seven down for 29 runs, you can’t ask for much more,” he said.

“Hank and Connor at the start bowled well. Connor got his reward at the end and Hank got a couple of wickets early which was nice.”

In other games, Allansford accounted for Nirranda, which was forced to follow on, and Port Fairy scored a seven-wicket victory over Dennington with Aaron Williams top-scoring with 49.