by Samuel Laffy
Hallora vs Longwarry (180)

Late runs from Damian Everson and Jesse La Frantz helped Longwarry post a potentially tricky target for ladder-leaders Hallora to chase next weekend, with the Crows making their way to 180 before being dismissed in the 69th over.

For much of the day the Kangaroos seemed to have their opponents' measure, with some challenging line-and-length bowling from Dilpreet Singh (1/35 from 15) and Brett Watkins (3/46 off 16 excellent overs) making the batters work for each and every run.
With Steven Fox delivering a characteristically tight spell of spin in addition, Longwarry were at one stage 7/117 and seemingly destined for a sub-par total.
However, Everson (who struck a fluent 35) and La Frantz (who chimed in with a run-a-ball 21) were able to break the shackles and counterattacked confidently.
Lakshan Walpola then struck 15 at the bottom of the order to boost the total late and Longwarry would no doubt be proud of their efforts in the second half of the innings to potentially threaten Hallora's unbeaten streak.
Western Park (154) vs Trafalgar (3/15)
Western Park may have underperformed with the bat in comparison to some of their recent efforts, but the Warriors seized the momentum in a stunning late salvo with the ball to have Trafalgar in trouble at stumps of their round 13 encounter.
Batting first, Western Park found the going tough against some disciplined bowling from the likes of David Bremner (who maintained a fearsome pace across his 22 overs, claiming 3/45) and Zak Larkin (who snared 2/30 off 9).
At one stage the home side had slumped to 6/68 and were seemingly without answers.
However, the Ships weren't able to truly capitalise on their strong start as Jack Allen (a dynamic 43 from 66) and 'Garry' Thompson (who channelled the willow to great effect on his way to 37) combined for a seventh-wicket stand of 75.
Eventually dismissed for 155, the Warriors knew that any breakthroughs they made would be crucial to their chances and, on the back of a superb new ball spell of Archie Dunn (1/2 from 4) and the wily ways of Dulip Liyanage (1/0 off 4), reduced Trafalgar to 3/15. Much rests on the shoulders of Callum Walton – who has struck over 500 runs for the summer – when play resumes next Saturday.
Iona (9d/183) vs Catani (0/11)
In an – almost – winner-takes-all clash, Catani and Iona are evenly poised in their division three clash, with the Cats requiring 173 more to claim victory; the winner of the clash moving a game clear of the loser with just one more home-and-away round remaining. '
The Cats survived a tense five-over spell at the tail end of the day's play, with the Swamp Tigers taking the unusual step of declaring their innings nine down in an attempt to make early inroads.
Ross Douglas (4* from 18) and Bailey Sporish (0* from 12) were up to the task however, finishing the day 0/11.
Earlier, Iona's total of 9/183 was made possible thanks to another stunning knock from Scott Clark, with the veteran batter again making runs seemingly for fun.
Striking nine boundaries on his way to 83, Clark combined with the likes of Andrew Hilder (an unusually demure 24 from 100) and Tynan North (who blasted four fours and two sixes in a rollicking 23-ball 37) to lift the Swamp Tigers.
Sam Coleman (2/39 from 16), Sporish (2/62 off 21.2), and Cameron Wagstaff (3/20) managed to rein in the rest of the line-up however and kept the game on an even keel.
Warragul vs Ellinbank (5/300)
Ellinbank's finals hopes may have been extinguished by Western Park last weekend, but that didn't stop the Eagles from posting a formidable total against Warragul, ending the day at 5/300.
It was a total made possible thanks to some throwback appearances from some well-known Ellinbank names, with Brad Berry and Tim Mashado starring with the bat.
After the likes of Adam Campbell (a patient 45), Bailey Helps (29), and Chris Pallot (35) had laid a solid foundation – with the lack of early wickets ensuring the Gulls were always staring down the barrel of a long day in the field – Berry quickly began unfurling a host of classy strokes, sending the ball to and over the fence with alarming regularity (from a Warragul perspective).
His better-than-a-run-a-ball 115 disrupted the rhythm of the Gulls attack, with only Amandeep Singh (2/69) and Kieran Morton (1/56) able to trouble the Eagles.
Mashado's 30-ball unbeaten 39 then capped off the day in style as Warragul find themselves with a formidable mountain to climb next weekend.