Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Eastern Hill posted a total of 9-204 on day one which saw contributions of 40 from Dallas Bergowicz and 39 each from both Benjamin and Ollie Bryant, leaving the home side well placed heading into day two at Kings Park at the weekend.
Their hold on the game became even stronger early on as Benjamin Bryant turned it on with the ball, claiming the scalps of East Sunbury openers Liam Williams and Spencer Paton to leave the visitors in all sorts at 2-14, before breaking through to claim their number three Blake Watson to compound the issue at 3-31.
Bryant soon claimed his fourth scalp, that of Alec Nichols, as East Sunbury floundered to 4-47, and while Lachie Wilkins (39) and Mark Hourigan (25) offered some resistance, it did not last long.
Daniel O’Sullivan found the breakthrough to join Bryant among the wicket-takers, removing Wilkins, and after getting a taste for it, added the scalps of opposing skipper Evan Wilkins and Hammad Rashid in quick succession, leaving the visitors teetering at 7-91.
Bryant came back on to finish the job, claiming wickets five and six for the day, while O’Sullivan claimed another in the middle, as they shared all 10 wickets between them to bowl East Sunbury out for 109.
Bryant finished with 6-43 and O’Sullivan 4-18 in a dominant display.
Despite having East Sunbury 4-38 in the second dig and still needing 58 runs to avoid losing outright by an innings, the Eagles had to settle for first innings points only.
With just one round remaining before finals — a one-day contest against Kilmore in Kilmore — Eastern Hill looks poised to mount a serious charge at the title, although finishing positions are still up in the air.
The Eagles currently sit second, trailing Wallan only on bonus points, and remain a chance to finish on top, although at worst will remain second, with East Sunbury in third and Aintree and Kilmore separated by just 0.01 points in fourth and fifth respectively.
