THE stakes are rising in the YVCA DJ Strachan Shield as teams battle for top-four positions.
The in-form Mt Evelyn made its way up to Warburton-Millgrove with Rovers captain Kane Jones winning the toss and batting.
The Rovers navigated a difficult opening to the session but one thing is certain: you can't keep good players down, and when Luke Darwall (3-42) joined Mick Walker (4-74) in the attack, the Burras quickly reduced the visitors to 5-83. But Jones (121) was joined by Troy Hancock (41) and the pair went about getting their side back into the contest, compiling a 127-run partnership.
Mt Evelyn's tail wagged to add bonus runs to the score as the visitors were dismissed within sight of stumps for 280.
Coldstream travelled to Hoddles Creek seeking to quickly make up for last round's hiccup against Mt Evelyn.
The home side batted first and gamely against the consistent Crocs' attack. Contributions from Luke Hetherington (55), Warwick Weir (44) and Simon Garside (39) ensured the Wombats compiled a competitive 196.
At Woori Yallock, the Tigers hosted Yarra Junction and Tigers captain Daniel Lever had a day to remember, notching figures of 9-78, yet Woori still held on long enough to post 223.
Meanwhile, in the clash of the top two sides, with Seville hosting Healesville, the visitors batted first and had no answers to the left-arm swing and guile of Matt Tilney, who bagged 6-45 as Healesville slid to a tally of 87. At the close of play, Seville was 5-73, still 15 runs short of a first innings victory.
DJ Strachan Shield
Woori Yallock 223 (S.Young 66, M.Dwyer 39, Dan Lever 9-78) v Yarra Junction; Hoddles Creek 196 (L Hetherington 55, W Weir 44, S Garside 39, L Doughty 3-40) v Coldstream; Mt Evelyn 280 (K Jones 121, S Kogelman 44, T Hancock 41, M Walker 4-74, L Darwall 3-42) v Warburton-Millgrove; Seville 5-73 v Healesville 87 (M Tilney 6-45).