WOODFORD was forced to play the waiting game before securing an outright victory it hopes will ignite its Warrnambool and District Cricket Association season.
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The Eels rolled East Warrnambool-YCW for 42 in its second innings on Saturday, securing the maximum points in 90 minutes.
They didn’t hit Jones Oval until 3.40pm due to “a couple of wet spots” on the pitch.
But Woodford skipper Nick Butters, who made a century and took three wickets on day one, said the result made the long wait “worth it in the end”.
“It was a different wicket this week. It was a damp, sticky wicket to bat on so it was always going to be hard for them,” he said.
“It (the outright) is massive for us. We’ve struggled this year to get wins on the board, so it’s good to get back up the ladder a little bit and closer to the top four where we’d like to be.”
Eels trio Connor Richardson (3-18), Isaac Fowler (3-6) and Hank Schlaghecke (2-12) did the damage with the ball.
Woodford’s next opponent, Brierly-Christ Church, produced a 13-run win over West Warrnambool.
Bulls skipper Mark Murphy said a four-wicket haul from Daniel Oakley was a catalyst in keeping the Panthers to 95.
He also praised Brandon Bant for his 3-34.
“We bowled well in partnerships and that was the key today,” Murphy said.
“We didn’t have any lapses.”
The Bulls went in for a second dig, with Panther Matt O’Neil, who took two first innings wickets, claiming the scalp of Zac Brooks.
An economical bowling performance from Allansford’s Brad Sheen helped the Gators to a 145-run victory over Merrivale.
Sheen snared 5-5 off a 9.5-over spell which included six maidens.
Harrison Bond scored 43 in the Gators’ second innings.
Wesley-CBC edged home against Port Fairy.
Beaver Thomas Bowman top-scored in the one-wicket win with 31 down the order.
Nirranda squeezed home against Dennington, ekeing out a two-wicket win on the road.
Water on the Jetty Flat pitch forced the Russells Creek-Nestles game to be abandoned. The Factory had secured first innings points with a powerful performance on day one.