Youth Club recruit Tim Seymour anxiously looks up after skying this shot in the clash against Aradale at North Park on Saturday. Seymour top scored with 94 runs and will turn his focus to helping Youth Club defend their total of 294 runs tomorrow. Picture: MARK McMILLAN
GCA - Swifts/Great Western are in a prime position to snatch points against St Andrews and continue their unbeaten run in the A grade Grampians Cricket Association.
After being set a total of just 95 runs, the Combine are already just over the halfway mark and resume on day two at 2/43.
James Devery and Jacob Seeary are sitting on 11 and 17 not out respectively and will be out to forge a solid partnership, while next in line are Jackson Dark, Craig Marrow and Jamie Bach.
Tomorrow, Saints bowlers have a tough assignment in restricting a Swifts/Great Western batting onslaught.
If the Combine make enough runs, it is more than likely they will declare and send the Saints back in to face the music.
Should this happen, Saints batsmen Bart Wilson, Jacob Bates, Tom Schwab and Toby Reid must remain at the crease as long as possible to avoid outright defeat.
In the meantime Saints bowler Scott Dadswell has one wicket to his name and will be out to add to his tally.
Fellow Saints bowlers Eric Wilson, Brady Miller and John Hosking must step up and help Dadswell to remove the Combine batsmen before they begin to take complete control of the match.
Aradale face a tough day at the office tomorrow against Youth Club.
Chasing an impressive score of 295, Aradale have already lost a vital wicket with Jon Townsend falling to Jack Kelly without scoring.
Travis Horvatek (16 not out) and Tyler Cronin (3) are under pressure to make quick runs if their side is to challenge the in-form Clubbers.
Brent Tate, Brett Crone and Matthew Stasse are next in line to go up against a formidable Youth Club bowling attack, with Steve Le Gassick, Cam Kimber, Jamie Solyom and Jack Kelly set to lead the charge.
If Youth Club are successful in removing Aradale for a low score, it is likely they will send the visitors in to bat again with an eye on recording their first outright victory of the season.
It will be up to Townsend, Horvatek, Cronin and Tate to attack the ball and keep the Clubbers bowlers in check.
Buangor are vying for maximum points in day two of their clash against Pomonal.
Shaun Allen was the leading run scorer for Buangor on day one, producing 76 as his side looks to replace Tatyoon in the Association's top three on the ladder.
The visitors are sitting at 6/176 in reply to Pomonal's dismal first innings score of 77, with Chris Jerram and Declan Adams resuming out in the middle.
However, Buangor are more than likely to declare and send Pomonal back in to bat.
Jack Ganley was the hero on day one, taking five wickets and he will again lead the Buangor bowling attack with support from Ben Hargreaves, Jack Fraser and Harry Ganley.
Pomonal batsmen must produce runs to prevent another outright loss, although the team cannot rely on the usual suspects Nick Maddison and Robert McKinnon with Rick Oliver, John Malligan and Alex Malligan needing to step up to atone for the side's poor start.
* Wickliffe/Lake Bolac have informed the Association that they have decided to withdraw from C grade competition.
A second bye will be introduced for the remaining teams that are scheduled to play Wickliffe/Lake Bolac.
Grampians Cricket Association president Anthony Martin said the committee is going to try and assist the club to re-enter the competition next year.
A grade
St Andrews 95 v Swifts/Great Western 2/43
Youth Club 294 v Aradale 1/22
Pomonal 77 v Buangor 6/176
B grade
Navarre 7/243(dec) v Chalambar 132*
Halls Gap 9/450(cc) v Youth Club
Swifts/Great Western 8/408(cc) v Pomonal
C grade
Rhymney/Moyston v Aradale
Pomonal v Willaura
St Andrews v Chalambar
Buangor v Navarre
Bye - Halls Gap
*Result to be determined