By Ewen McRae
A convincing all-round display from Williamstown has it well placed in its sub-district cricket opener against Balwyn.
Williamstown won the toss in the trip to the eastern suburbs, and sent the hosts in to bat, but found the early going tough as the home side put on a strong opening stand.
Balwyn put on 50 for the first wicket before Fraser Hay (1-18) got the breakthrough, and from there the Seagulls never looked back.
Regular wickets fell as the home side crumbled, with Brent McMinn (3-11), Nathan Bratby (2-6) and Jarrod Flood-Bauce (2-18) ripping through the middle and late order to dismiss the hosts for just 104.
With 25 overs to bat late in the day, Williamstown was able to recover from the early loss of James Cook (7) to seize control of the game.
Opener James Grixti (61 not out) combined with McMinn (41) to guide Williamstown to first innings points, and while McMinn fell just before stumps the Seagulls will resume at 2-114 and in control of the contest.
Elsewhere, Yarraville had an up and down day in its clash with Endeavour Hills, but ended it with victory still a real possibility.
Batting first after being sent in by the hosts, Yarraville lost Aidan Salvado for just two, but was able to consolidate through Josh Hahnel (54), Sam Shearer (16) and Kasey Duncan (48).
Together that trio got the visitors to a respectable score, and while the lower order fell away late in the day, Yarraville was able to post 175.
A late spell with the ball improved Yarraville’s chances of an early season win, with Mitchell Cross picking up two wickets to leave Endeavour Hills 2-22 at stumps.
Finally, Altona’s game against Box Hill will be played as a one-dayer this weekend.
