Altona will have to produce its best with the bat on day two in order to beat western rivals Werribee and retain the Paul Jenkins Shield.
The A’s have been set a victory target of 242 after Tigers captain Tim O’Brien got off the leash with 102 to steer the visitors to a commanding total in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association at Frank Kirk Oval on Saturday.
David Kinsella was Altona’s most damaging weapon with the ball, taking 4-59 off 18 overs, including the scalp of O’Brien.
Spinners Adam Yates (2-39) and Stefan Sidari (2-57) continued their good form for the A’s.
Gunning for an eighth consecutive win, Williamstown has some work to do against Melton at the Williamstown Cricket Ground.
The Seagulls produced 226 with middle-order batsmen Matthew Dervan (61) and Matthew Twentyman (44) providing the backbone.
Yarraville restricted Endeavour Hills to 183 with spinners Akshat Buch (3-45) and Nathan Allen (3-37) combining for six wickets.
In Premier Cricket, Footscray Edgewater is clinging to a spot in the top eight heading into the final round.
The Bulldogs blew a massive chance to create a bigger gap, losing to top side Camberwell Magpies by 20 runs in a low-scoring game at the Camberwell Sports Ground on Saturday.
Chasing Camberwell’s 172, the Bulldogs started the day behind the eight-ball at 8-110, but a gutsy ninth wicket stand by Hamish Winter-Irving (18no) and Jonah Koch (19) gave them a real sniff.
Once that partnership was broken with Koch’s dismissal, No.11 Jeremy Hart could not stick around for long enough with Winter-Irving, and the Bulldogs exited for 152.
The rest of the day was glorified batting practice for Camberwell, with the hosts posting 172, identical to their first innings.
Hart (3-72), Winter-Irving (2-36) and Lucas Dredge (2-22) gave their season bowling figures a boost. It will all come down to the final round for Footscray Edgewater. If the Bulldogs can beat Geelong in the final two-dayer at Merv Hughes Oval, they should play in the finals, but lose and they will have to rely on other results to go their way.
