Playing at Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve, the Eagles were asked to bowl after losing the toss; however, they were soon celebrating after Benjamin Bryant claimed the scalp of Burra’s opener Nathan Crosland for a duck in just the fifth over.
The home side would fall to 2-6 after Matthew Collard struck in the 10th over to remove remaining opener Justin Cleur; however, it would be the last breakthrough for a while as the Diggers Rest batters settled in to try to rescue a big total.
A frustrating 19 overs passed as the home side’s number three and four dug themselves in, with the Eagles unable to remove them, until Riley Graham struck to dismiss Darren Quarrell, who made a stubborn 21 from 81 deliveries.
From there it was all Eastern Hill, as the middle and lower Diggers Rest order failed to find the answers for the Eagles attack.
Collard finished the day as the pick of the Eastern Hill bowlers, claiming the 10th wicket to end the Diggers Rest innings and finish with figures of 3-15, while Daniel O’Sullivan (3-19), Graham (2-13) and Bryant (2-18) were all also instrumental.
Having bowled the home side out for just 91, the Eagles had nine overs left in the day to negotiate, eating into the deficit by putting 20 runs on the board but also suffering a casualty, with Jake Wright dismissed for a duck.
Eastern Hill will resume next week at 1-20 with Michael Brown and Bryant at the crease, as the Eagles look to wrap up a dominant win and take momentum into the big clash against East Sunbury in round 13.
