
EITHER Merrivale or Wesley Yambuk will enter the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association Christmas break clear on top.
The Tigers and Beavers both boast 4-0 win-loss records entering their showdown at Walter Oval on Saturday.
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Merrivale captain Justin Lynch is excited for the challenge.
"Going into Christmas either one of us will be 5-0 and really stamping ourselves on the competition," he said.
It comes after Merrivale accounted for North Warrnambool Eels and Wesley Yambuk dispatched West Warrnambool in round four.
Lynch said the Tigers' effort was even sweeter considering they'd had absentees most weeks.
"To have key batsmen out of your side and still be winning is even more pleasing," he said.
"The people who have come in and played their roles in those positions when they've been asked to, full credit to them because it's not easy."
Lynch said the Tigers had to grind out a result in a rain-impacted match.
The Eels posted 7-96 and the Tigers replied with 7-108.
"They are always difficult overs to chase," Lynch said.
Lynch's unbeaten 39 and teenage spinner Hugh Fleming's four wickets were crucial to the result.
"Our plan was to be nice and tight to them and not try and give them much because they have really good batsmen in Nick Butters, Kory Howlett and Bailey Jenkinson," Lynch said.
"You have to be nice and tight to and try and pin them down and we executed it pretty well."
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Fleming, who boards in Ballarat, took 4-10 including the wicket of Butters.
"He won the division two wickets last year so he's obviously a really good bowler for us," Lynch said.
"We have a lot of spin options so it's hard to squeeze them all into the side because they're all deserving of a spot.
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"His weight of numbers has forced himself into the side and I think he'll be a major part of our side going forward."
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"He's bowling really well and against Allansford, on a good batting wicket, he came in and played his role," he said.
"He came on in the 11th over I think and there was a bit of pressure on him. They were going along pretty well and he stemmed the flow of runs."
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