THE dam wall has finally broken in DJ Strachan Shield as a spate of one-sided round 10 results separated the best from the rest and settled the finals teams.
In the most crucial clash of the round, Woori Yallock was precariously placed at 4-31 chasing Coldstream's modest 111 after day one.
In a handful of overs, the Tigers' finals chances all but disappeared as they rolled over for 45 runs with Matthew Stark (4-18) leading the way for the Crocs.
Coldstream stuttered in the pursuit of quick second innings runs and declared at 5-88, a lead of 162.
With only the hope of a reverse outright to save their season, the Tigers had a dash at victory with the big-hitting Greg Selby (38) giving them a chance, but the rest of the batting order was no match for the consistent bowling of Matthew Stark (5-29) and Dean Semken (4-58) and they were bowled out for 141, handing Coldstream outright points.
The second-placed Crocs will be keen to finish the season with some good results to secure a home final.
Mt Evelyn entered day two of its clash with Hoddles Creek with sights firmly on an outright result. The Rovers batted on and, on the back of captain Kane Jones's century (116), posted a score of 9-229, a lead of 146.
Four early wickets to the Rovers had them coasting towards outright victory, but with that they dropped their intensity and they allowed experienced Wombat pair Brenton Derix and Warwick Weir the opportunity to build a partnership.
The wicket of Derix on the stroke of tea opened the game up for the Rovers and, although the Wombats' lower order showed great fight after that, they were unable to stop the home side from securing outright points.
Now in third place, Mt Evelyn will hope a couple of wins can snatch a home final.
After day one Seville was also poised for outright victory after securing first-innings points against Healesville.
The Blues batted on and posted a score of 183, giving them a lead of 113.
Seville's much publicised bowling attack threw everything at the Bloods' batting line-up, but with a solid unbeaten knock from Nathan Fall (58 not out) anchoring the innings, the visitors were able to hold out the Blues, finishing 6-162.
Ishara Amarasinghe was the pick of the Seville bowlers in the second innings with 3-30. With Seville sitting fourth on the ladder, the round 11 clash with Mt Evelyn is an opportunity to advance their cause.
Yarra Junction will be ruing its poor start to the season after another post-Christmas win, this time against struggling Silvan. After posting a competitive 243 on day one, the Eagles made short work of the Slugs, bowling them out for a paltry 93.
The home side had no answers for the skill of David Lever (4-23) and the rest of Eagles' bowlers.
The win moved them into sixth place, but the Eagles have left their run too late.
DJ Strachan Shield: Hoddles Creek 83 & 140 (C Anderson 4-13 & 4-50, B Jones 4-21 & 4-36) lt Mt Evelyn 9-229dec (K Jones 116, D Fraser 40), Seville 183 (M Tilney 55, B Chandler 4-47) d Healesville 70 & 6-162 (N Fall 58no, I Amarasinghe 3-30), Coldstream 119 & 5-88 (N Cuthbertson 25, J Wright 2-15) d Woori Yallock 45 (M Stark 4-18, L Doughty 2-5, J Hamilton 2-8) & 141 (G Selby 38, M Stark 5-29, D Semken 4-58), Yarra Junction 243 (David Lever 59, T Nightingale 79, T Fischer 3-25, S Walliker 3-60) d Silvan 93 (David Lever 4-23).
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