RICHARD Oliver’s side Geelong City earned first innings points from a thrilling home clash with St. Joseph’s in the Geelong Cricket Association Division One to keep alive their title hopes.

Worcestershire opener and Geelong skipper Oliver saw his side achieve their target of 106 with just one wicket in hand to secure the six points.

St Joseph’s had been bowled out for 105 at the Richmond Crescent Oval on the opening day last weekend with Geelong replying with 22-2 by the close.

Oliver, who resumed unbeaten on six, made 16 before he was third out at 35 and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

Geelong were 61-5, 86-7 and then 104-9 before last pair Kent Agg and M. Worthington saw them to victory.

The home side eventually made 148 all out before the close of play.

Ed Barnard helped Queanbeyan District dominate their away two day clash with Weston Creek Molonglo in the Australian Capital Territory first grade.

Barnard had scored 52 on the opening day out of his side’s 312-6 and they batted on to make 420-7. He then bowled 16 overs and finished with 1-39 — and also pouched four catches — as Weston Creek closed on 210-9.

Barnard’s Worcestershire and England Under 19 colleague Joe Clarke was again amongst the runs as South Perth took control on the opening day of their Western Australian Cricket Association first grade clash with visiting University.

University were bowled out for 153 in 55.4 overs and in reply South Perth reached 104-1 off 31 overs by the close.

Clarke came in at 34-1 and featured in an unbroken stand of 70 with C Ryan.

Clarke will resume next weekend on 26 not out from 64 balls with four boundaries.

Jack Shantry picked up two wickets to help put Greenvale Kangaroos in a strong position to push for first innings points on the second day of the Victorian Premier Cricket Bartercard Premier Firsts clash with visiting Footscray Edgewater next weekend. The ever-consistent Worcestershire paceman took the new ball and returned the miserly figures of 2-24 from 15 overs as Edgewater were dismissed for 188 in 74.2 overs.

The Kangaroos reached 75-2 off 22 overs by the close with Cox and Shantry still to bat.

Joe Leach’s efforts were in vain for North Canberra Gungahlin who went down by seven wickets to visiting Western District UC on the second day of their Australian Capital Territory first grade encounter.

The Northies were always facing an uphill struggle after they were dismissed for 89 on the opening day’s play.

Western District reached 250-5 in their first innings, a lead of 161, and then dismissed the home side for 189 in their second innings.

Leach made 15 and was third out at 48. He then took the new ball and picked up three wickets in returning figures of 4.2-2-16-3. But Western District reached their modest 29 target in 8.2 overs.

Ross Whiteley’s side, Prospect CC, had to settle for a losing draw from their South Australian Cricket Association first grade clash away to Tea Tree Gully on day two.

Tea Tree had scored 267 on the opening day and Prospect were dismissed for 147 in their first innings despite Whiteley top-scoring with 37.

He came in at number three and hit six fours before being fourth out at 83.

Prospect followed on and closed on 100-2 with Whiteley dismissed for 17 off 21 balls.