Barooga snared a dominant outright victory over Nathalia at the weekend to build momentum ahead of the Murray Valley Cricket Association premier division finals.
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With just one round left in the regular season, the Hawks have shut the door to the top four with the triumph and could avoid likely minor premier Cobram in a knockout semi-final if their form continues to roll on.
Daniel Ellis picked up where he left off at stumps on day one when play resumed on Saturday, reaching 142 from 141 deliveries before finally losing his wicket.
Sam Leigh (61 not out) also added quick runs as the Hawks compiled 8-262 — a lead of 167 — and sent the Purples back out to the batting crease.
While the home side at the Nathalia Showgrounds was able to dig in for 62 overs, it was not able to resist the supreme bowling efforts of Matt Jaensch.
Jaensch sent down 23 overs, eight of which were maidens, and claimed 7-49 to steer his Hawks to outright success.
Nathalia managed just 107 before it was bowled out, falling well short of the runs required to make the Hawks bat again but getting within sight of surviving enough overs to deny the visitors maximum points.
Adam Jorgensen had earlier finished with 4-34 with ball in hand for the Purples.
● Katamatite had an important round 13 win over Deniliquin at Memorial Park, despite a member of the home side striking a ton.
Brodie Bennett hit 102 of the Rhinos’ total of 195 to play a lone hand with the bat as opener Boddie Arthur (22) was the only other batsman to reach at least 15.
Sam Dorsey (3-65), Brad Parnell (2-26) and James Tierney (2-33) did the damage for the Boosey Creek Tigers, with the side then claiming some batting practice once the first innings was wrapped up.
Tierney (47) and Jamie Magowan (31 not out) made the most of it as Katamatite put on 4-134 in 26 overs.
It leaves the Boosey Creek Tigers within striking distance — albeit only mathematically rather than realistically — of the minor premiership ahead of the final round of regular season action.
Meanwhile, the Rhinos could drop to fourth spot with another loss next round.
● Cobram was denied an outright win by a stubborn Tocumwal batting effort at the weekend after filling its own boots at the crease.
The Tigers’ skipper Adam De Cicco struck his maiden MVCA century — finishing with 103 — as his side put on 7-339 in 80.3 overs before declaring its innings closed.
Matteo Allen was the last man to fall for a well-made 86, putting on 74 runs with fellow rising star Hugh Hyde (17 not out).
Try as they might, the Tigers could not rip through the Bloods as they had in the first innings, with the home side at Tocumwal Recreation Reserve making 4-80 in 30 overs before time was called on the match.
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