The Flames bowlers hold the finals fate of their side, needing to dismiss the Tongala batsmen for less than 175 runs to book a spot in the John McMahon Shield finals.
Tongala’s openers Alex Williams and Steve Townsend have already wiped 14 runs off this target, setting up a thrilling final day run chase this Saturday.
A Fire Brigade win will almost cost Bamawm-Lockington United its place in the final four, as its batsmen are faced with the daunting task of making 355 to beat reigning premier Echuca.
If they do, The Flames are out of finals reckoning regardless of the outcome of its clash.
Shannon Fleming with 57 off 73 balls held The Flames batting together and enabled his side to post a competitive 175 against Tongala on the first day of their clash at Kyabram’s Northern Oval last Saturday.
Along with opener Miller Griffiths, who made 25, they were the only top order batsmen to hold up the Tongala bowlers for any length of time.
But just when the Tongala bowlers were taking control, young talent Riley Carver and Tom Owen gave the Brigade score a hefty lower order batting boost.
Carver made a patient and gritty 34 off 73 balls and Owen 20 off 50 balls to swell their team’s total to 175.
Alex Williams did the most damage with the ball for Tongala with 4-50 off 15 overs, while spinner Darin Ohlsen and Lachlan Caldwell chipped in with two wickets each.
Tongala started its run chase positively late in the day, reaching 0-14 off 10 overs at stumps.
Alex Williams, unbeaten on seven and Steve Townsend (five not out) will resume the Tongala innings this Saturday.
Elsewhere, Echuca’s Kobyn James scored 124 as his team piled up an impressive 5-354 against BLU in the other crucial clash.
Jones didn’t lack support with five of his six teammates making over 20 or more with James Grixti showing the way, notching a swashbuckling 92.
Both James and Grixti hit 12 fours, with the former also smashing three sixes in commanding knocks.
Rochester, needing to win to hold top spot on the ladder, was in a commanding position at the end of the day in the clash with wooden spooner Nondies-Cohuna.
With Angus Martin taking 4-10 off eight overs and Sean Williams 3-8 off 10 overs, Rochy routed Nondies for just 63 in 35.1 overs.
Then, Rochester reached 4-144 before declaring and had Nondies 3-37 in its second innings and looked well-placed to gain a maximum points win and hold top spot on the ladder.
In Rochester’s first innings openers, Brandon Byrne with an unbeaten 56 and Sean Williams with a hard-hitting 53 established a first innings lead for their side through an entertaining partnership.
Third-placed Moama is in good position to beat Echuca South after declaring at 9-191 and then had the Swans reeling at 3-7.
Matt Saunders showed the way with the bat for Moama with a half century, while Tristan Watson was the best of the South bowlers with 4-60 off 17 overs.
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