COLLEGE has set the Demons a big run chase after Hamilton and District Cricket Association A grade day one action on Saturday.

The Eagles travelled to Macarthur Recreation Reserve and elected to bat first after calling the toss correctly.

Heath Schmidt returned to the side fresh off a BC grade century the week before, and carried that form into the round 14 A grade contest.

Jock Barrie opened alongside Schmidt, but only added 10 before falling to Brayden Buchanan.

Schmidt and Jack Austin then set about increasing the scoring rate, with both passing 50 without too much trouble.

Austin then fell for 54, while Schmidt was run out by Harry Turnham for 73.

Turnham then caused more damage, this time as a bowler, as he had Charles Murrie back in the pavilion without scoring, with Adrian Burn left to shoulder the scoring load.

Burn (78) and Hamish Bailey (48) kept the runs ticking along, with College eventually reaching 8-298 after 75 overs.

Turnham finished the day with six wickets, with the Demons essentially needing four runs an over on day two to claim victory.

Casterton District v Hamilton

HAMILTON travelled west to Island Park to take on Casterton District, with the visitors winning the toss and bowling first on the turf.

The Maroons’ start was steady, with Ben Holmes and Oliver Foster scoring steadily against the new ball, with the Blues bowlers toiling away without a breakthrough until the 25th over.

It was Anthony Read who finally got the first wicket, getting through Foster’s defence to dismiss the opener for 28, before Holmes (60) fell 16 balls later to Cameron Templeton.

Rick Killey (13) and Logan Gibbs (19) were the only other Casterton District batsmen to reach double figures, as Hamilton eventually bowled the Maroons out for 151 inside 59 overs.

Read was the dominant bowler for the Blues, finishing with 6-19 from 17.2 overs.

With plenty of time left before stumps, Hamilton then took to the crease with Logan Gibbs getting the home side off to the perfect start, with Xavier Stevens’ stumps getting rattled on the first ball of the innings.

Brett Ezart was also back in the pavilion cheaply with 15 runs to his name, as Nic Cullinane (six-not-out) and Hammish Shipcott (two-not-out) seeing the Blues to stumps at 2-25 after 13 overs.

Pigeon Ponds v Portland Tigers

PIGEON Ponds had home ground advantage for its clash against Portland Tigers, with the home side batting first after winning the toss.

The Tigers started well, bowling in good areas and restricting the home side’s scoring ability.

Both Noah Hildebrand (nine) and Peter Staude (17) fell to Will Oakley, with Ponds skipper, Hamish McCrae, left to try and steady the innings, while wickets continued to tumble at the other end.

McCrae finally found a partner who could offer some resistance, as Will Staude set about building a strong partnership at the crease.

The Ponds skipper was eventually dismissed for 67 at nearly a run-a-ball pace, with Will Staude pushing on alongside Will Burbury.

The pair ensured the home side got beyond 200, with Will Staude (40) and Burbury (51) eventually falling to Joel Askew and Charlie Harvey respectively.

Ponds were unable to last the day, bowled out in the 63rd over for 235.

Oakley and Harvey finished with three wickets each.

The Tigers then took to the crease and their innings started in the worst possible way, with neither opening batsmen able to get off the mark, as McCrae grabbed two early wickets to give the Ponds the early momentum.

Llewellyn Oakley (19-not-out) and Paul Procter (10-not-out) guided the visitors to 3-48 at stumps, with the Tigers still needing 188 runs to edge ahead on day two.

Gorae-Portland v St Andrew’s

GORAE-PORTLAND looks well-placed to secure a first innings victory over St Andrew’s after bowling the visitors out for just 116 in their match-up at Alexandra Park, before making their way to 0-21 at stumps.

Sam Roberts was instrumental to Go-Ports’ early success, claiming the vital wickets of openers, Brendan Huf and Damien Logan, dismissed for just seven and one respectively.

Roberts combined with Stephen O’Brien to run rampant through the St Andrew’s top and middle order, with their top five combining for just 21 in a horror start to the visitors’ innings.

However, St Andrew’s was able to fight back through a key partnership between John Walsh (44) and Taine Morris (23), which helped ensure the Drews at least passed the 100-run mark for their innings.

Roberts finished up with extraordinary figures of 4-24 from 26 overs with 14 maidens, while O’Brien had 3-27 from 19 overs with seven maidens, and Thomas Roberts rounded out the wicket-takers finishing with 1-45 from 11.2 overs.

Day two will see the home side in a strong position, with Zac Duncan and Finn Saurine set to resume their innings with both batsmen unbeaten on 10, with just 96 further runs required for victory.

Portland Colts v Grampians

PORTLAND Colts has given Grampians plenty of work to do in the second half of their clash this coming weekend, as they finished up on 9-234 after their 75 overs.

It was slow going for Colts’ openers after Grampians won the toss and elected to send them in to bat, but the top order laid the groundwork for a productive innings, as James Chapple continued to showcase his talents with an extremely impressive knock of 88.

He was supported through the middle order by his captain, Luke Evans (32), and Daniel Kinghorn (25), and while Carl Joyce produced another extraordinary performance with the ball – taking 6-70 from 26 overs – Colts still made its way to a strong total.

South Portland v Tyrendarra

SOUTH Portland has made a solid start to its clash against Tyrendarra at Cavalier Park, despite falling well behind in the early stages.

The Darras got off to an ideal start via Lachie Kirk, who picked up the wickets of both openers, Rory Barry and Hamish Drew, along with South skipper, Lachie Warburton, all in relatively quick fashion.

Things were looking dire for the Demons, as wickets continued to tumble with Darras bowler, Darren Killmister, taking control.

Karsen Edwards was able to step up with a valiant 44 to stave off the Darras and keep South Portland in the contest.

Assisted by 22 from youngster, Eamon Drew, South was able to turn things around after they looked like being bowled out very cheaply, finishing up on 126 after 54 overs.

The momentum turned even more in their favour after Barry was able to exact some revenge on Kirk, having him trapped LBW in the first ball of the innings in the perfect start to the second innings.

It was slow going for the Darras after that, as they scored at just 1.5 runs per over until stumps, while losing one further wicket.

They’ll resume at 2-27 on day two with Jake Wilson and Jordi Withers at the crease, and while the Darras are still clearly in the driver’s seat, there remains a glimmer of hope for South that the Demons could cause the upset of the season.