Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Rooks were treated to yet another powerful partnership at the top of the order as Joshua Rudge and Leigh Irving combined to belt the Yea attack all over the park.
The pair put on 117 together before the Tigers found a breakthrough, with Rudge dismissed for 41. However, Irving powered on, crunching 13 shots that found the rope and two that sailed over it en route to a brilliant 94 before being bowled just one swing of the bat away from a century.
Yea’s bowlers were able to recover somewhat, with Andrew Dundon the only other batsman to make it to double digits, trapped in front for 11, while no other Tallarook player was able to get going with the willow.
Still, the damage had been done, and the home side managed to put an imposing 6-194 on the board from its 45 overs.
Lachlan Watts (3-11) ensured the Yea chase would get nowhere near that as he tore through the Tigers’ top order to have the visitors in all sorts of trouble within the opening overs.
Removing both openers, as well as the Yea number three, Watts’ devastating spell saw the Tigers slump to 3-9 early and needing something special to drag themselves back into it.
They wouldn’t find it, as Samuel Manchester (3-40) and Matthew Archibald (2-11) kept the pressure piled on, while some sharp fielding from the Rooks resulted in two run-outs to finish off the tail, ending Yea’s innings at 79 all out after just 25.4 overs.
Elsewhere in A-grade, Seymour escaped with a tight eight-run win over Alexandra, while Pyalong recorded a comfortable victory against Puckapunyal to strengthen its position inside the top four.
In B-grade, Avenel routed Seymour to win by 10 wickets, Alexandra recorded a strong victory over Tallarook and Pyalong was too strong for Yea.
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