JUNG Tigers are positioned strongly after the first day of their round six Horsham Cricket Association match while Rup-Minyip were saved by Adam Carter against a spirited Laharum.
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The Horsham Saints had been forced to make seven changes to their round five side but were well positioned early in the contest against the Tigers.
Strong bowling by Hayden Smith, 6-59 off 19 overs, had set the Saints up well.
The Tigers were struggling at 6-107 in the 37th over before Steve Leith and Jason Pymer steadied the ship in a big way.
Pymer took advantage of Horsham City Oval’s short straight boundaries and punished anything short through a quick outfield on his way to a century.
Leith played a steady hand in a support role during a 150-run partnership.
When Pymer came to the crease he was on 15 and had made his way to 53 when his partner was trapped in front by Smith.
Both sides will likely welcome back a number of key players for the second week of the contest as the Saints look to chase down 296 to win.
Matt Combe, Austin Smith and Josh Carroll will strengthen the Saints’ batting lineup while Pat Laffy and Jake McLean will add depth to the Tigers’ bowling attack.
Rup-Minyip set Laharum a target of 203 to win, thanks largely to Adam Carter’s efforts with the bat.
Carter came to the wicket early after a 21-run opening stand between Dan Clark and Ryan Metelmann was broken by Mal Adams.
Adams removed Metelmann for 17 shortly after leaving Carter to play the anchor role in his side’s innings.
He played a calm and composed innings despite wickets falling regularly as he stood at the non-strikers end.
Six partners came and went before he was eventually dismissed by Josh Mahoney on 86 with the team’s score on 8-184.
Brent Hudson, 24, provided the only semblance of support as Mahoney, Adams and Damien Bunworth kept things tight at the Rupanyup ground.
Bunworth claimed the best figures with 4-44 off 21 overs while Adams had 3-24 off 10 and Mahoney had 3-54 off 21.4.
The teams backed up on Sunday to complete the game. Metelmann, Hudson and Corey Morgan will have to have bowled well to restrict a dangerous Laharum.
Mahoney, Griffiths, Ben Peucker, George MacDuff and Bunworth have all shown good from at different times this season.
The first day’s play between Blackheath-Dimboola and Homers was washed out by heavy mid-week rain.
The two side will play a one day game on Saturday in place of the scheduled two-day fixture.
