The Flames elected to bat on the first day of their clash at Windridge Oval, Rochester, but succumbed in just 48.4 overs for 82 runs.
Only opener Daniel Kent with a top score of 21 and Kane Herbert with 17 at number six reached double figures in the collapse, which was triggered by opening bowler Angus Martin with 3/13 off 8.4 overs, Fraser Cleary with 3/15 off seven overs and Sean Williams who picked up 2/11 off 12 overs.
In reply, Rochester had reached 3/51 at stumps, with key batsman Sean Williams one of the victims and still needing 32 runs this Saturday to claim first-innings points.
● All-rounder and skipper Darin Ohlsen batted Tongala into a strong positon with a century against bottom side BLU.
Ohlsen’s 107 was priceless, as only two of his teammates made double figures.
One was his twin brother, Matt, who also opened and scored 10 and the other was Elijah Gillie, with a fighting 46 lower down the list.
Shannon Bish did most damage with the ball for BLU, taking 4/21 off nine overs.
Tongala is not over the line yet but would be slight favourites.
● Cooma bowlers fought back to get their side into the box seat, albeit only just, against Echuca South in the clash at Echuca.
After winning the toss and reaching 1/73, Echuca South lost its last nine wickets for 53 runs to be skittled for 126 in 57.1 overs.
Two-wicket hauls to spearhead Liam Barrett, Liam Thorne and Jack Norris were responsible for the Echuca South batting surrender.
Consistent South opener Josh Novoselek made a half century and was well supported by Mitch Stephens (32) and Luke Thompson (24) but after their dismissals five South batsmen fell without worrying the scorer.
In reply, Cooma’s batsmen still had work to do to achieve first-innings points, resuming at 2/32 this Saturday with opener Liam Thorne on 17 and hard hitting Steve Barrett yet to score.
Cooma’s casualties included skipper and prolific run-scorer Michael Hill.
● Second placed Moama held the whip hand in the other clash, rolling Echuca for 121 in 61.2 overs on the back of a six-wicket haul from Jack Russell.
Russell picked up an innings-crushing 6/33 off 13.2 overs.
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