A month on from its last competitive two-day fixture, the combine’s golden boys Keiran Hogeboom (39) and Mitchell Reeves (63 retired) wasted no time peeling the red ball to Deakin Reserve’s boundary line off a frustrated Shepparton United attack.
A 45-run stand between openers Hogeboom and Harrison Boyd set the tone nicely for the hosts, before a Mason McDonald corker sent the latter's stumps cartwheeling for nine.
Hogeboom continued digging in, and though Joeve Cooper was also skittled for single digits, it only brought Reeves to the crease.
The middle order maestro cranked seven boundaries during his knock, setting the platform nicely for his side.
A late flurry from Xavier Schmedje (19) carried the host to 5-163 off its 45 overs, leaving United with plenty of work to do on Saturday.
At Memorial Oval, Tatura must get creative if it wishes to avoid an outright loss.
Bowled out for 51, the Bulldogs managed to fight back with the ball to have Euroa sitting on 4-65 at the end of the first day’s play.
But it was nothing short of disaster earlier at the crease.
Ben Andonoudis was Tatura’s only batsman to venture past 10, with each of the Magpies’ bowlers claiming at least a pole each.
On the chase, Nicholas Hill (32) was Euroa’s most notable contributor.
In the round’s remaining game, Numurkah posted a respectable 120 all out on its host track against Mooroopna.
Liam Leahy, Riley Moon and Daniel Meek were the visitor's chief destroyers, taking two scalps apiece.
● After piling on the runs at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve, Old Students will look to get the job done over Northerners in B-grade.
A run a ball 60 not out from Isaac Chandler headlined the travelling side’s sparkling innings of 8-169 from 45 overs, supported by handy knocks from Mitchell Higgins (25) and Riley Humphrey (24 not out).
Declan Newbound (2-16) and Cohan Hall (2-26) were the pick of the bunch with the ball for Northerners.
At Vibert Reserve, Katandra looks poised to bowl over Nagambie fairly comfortably.
Thanks to Finn Walters (73) the Eagles managed to post 188 with the bat, and have Nagambie trapped on 3-35 heading into day two.
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