Travelling to John McMahon Reserve in Sunbury, it was once again Ben Bryant that stood up for the Eagles, backing up his stunning form in round two to top score with 41 runs and snare 4-16 with the ball, as Eastern Hill clinched a supreme 72-run victory.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Eagles found themselves without openers Matthew Collard (9) and Billy Cox (3) inside six overs as East Sunbury made early headway with the ball.
Despite number three Bryant and Oscar Newell finding themselves at the crease much earlier than they would likely have anticipated, the pair settled, occupying the crease for 10 overs together and steadily ticking the scoreboard over, before Newell eventually departed for a patient seven runs.
Nathan Fowler managed the same before he too was back in the sheds, while number six Ollie Bryant fared one better, adding eight, but not before Ben Bryant had been dislodged for 41 off 75, with the pair both departing inside six deliveries and leaving the Eagles in all sorts at six down.
However, a clutch 29 from Michael Brown down the order and a patient 14 not out from skipper Seamus Feery at number 10 aided Eastern Hill in surpassing the 100-run milestone, with the innings eventually coming to an end at 141, one ball shy of completing the allotted 45 overs.
Setting East Sunbury a target of 142 to win, the Eagles were looking for quick wickets early to induce some pressure and it took just nine balls to find one.
With his third delivery, Ben Bryant trapped opener Gurwinder Singh plumb in front for a duck. Not content with one wicket in his first over, he followed it up with two in his second, reducing the home side to 3-12 after just four overs.
The Eagles heaped on the pressure, with a run-out coming three balls later to have the scoreboard read 4-12 and the result was almost able to be pencilled in when Bryant claimed his fourth, as East Sunbury slumped to 5-25 with 10 overs complete.
Resistance came from the home side’s number seven, Nathan Dent, who added 33, however he became one of four victims of Tim Rudd-Schmidt, who enjoyed a brilliant spell which included a wicket in three consecutive overs, as Eastern Hill romped through the tail to bowl East Sunbury out for 69 and claim the emphatic 72-run win.
Rudd-Schmidt and Bryant finished with identical figures of 4-16, although Bryant was ever so slightly more economical, while Newell also picked up 1-9.
The win ensures Eastern Hill remains on top of the ladder through three rounds with a perfect record, one which it will hope to keep intact when it faces Eynesbury at Eynesbury Recreation Reserve this Saturday.
