By Jonty Ralphsmith
Noble Park has an imposing run chase ahead of it against Elsternwick at Moodemere Reserve in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
The hosts put on 308 on Saturday, bowled out in the last over after a terrific Lincoln Edwards century at better than a run a ball.
Noble Park had no answer for Edwards, who carted 17 boundaries in a knock of 139 off 130, coming in after a solid foundation had been set but the game was still in the balance.
Once Edwards was dismissed, Noble Park was able to stem the flow, the last four wickets falling for just 33 runs.
But the damage was already done, with Edwards backing himself despite Noble Park able to find frequent breakthroughs at the other end.
Skipper Janaka Liyanabadalge was the pick of the bowlers with 2/36 off 12 overs.
Noble Park will have its work cut out for it, facing an Elsternwick outfit which bowled out Moorabbin for just 94 in the first two-dayer of the season.
Meanwhile, Endeavour Hills is on the back foot against Bayswater.
Choosing to bat first, Endeavour Hills was plagued by an inability to convert, seven players facing at least 30 balls and six reaching double digits, but Bhanuka Samarakkody’s 35 being the top score.
Endeavour Hills reached 162 off 58 overs, and the score could have been even grimmer if not for Madurawalage Jayasundera and Bineth Bandara’s lower-order resistance.
Given 12 overs at Bayswater, Endeavour Hills got a wicket in the second last over of the day through Jayasundera, but Bayswater had reached 1/49 by stumps.
