Eagles continue dominant run on day one against East Sunbury

Hosting third-placed East Sunbury at Kings Park, the Eagles won the toss and elected to bat, with openers Billy Cox and Dean Fulco setting the tone immediately, frustrating the East Sunbury bowling attack in a 27-over opening stand that yielded 73 runs.

While scoring wasn’t overly quick at just under three runs per over, the pair took the shine off the new ball, setting up a perfect foundation for the rest of the innings following Cox’s eventual dismissal for 41.

It brought Ben Bryant to the crease, and if East Sunbury thought it was a chance of another quick wicket, it was horribly mistaken, as Bryant and Fulco did even more damage than the opening partnership.

For 30 overs the duo pushed the ball to all parts of the field, and both raised their bats for half-centuries, as they combined for 99 runs to bring Eastern Hill beyond the 150-run mark, while simultaneously crushing the spirit of the visitors.

By the time East Sunbury finally had Fulco stumped, the opener had reached 61, with the team total a healthy 2-172, and the Eagles were well and truly in control.

It looked as though the visitors had finally found some momentum as Bryant followed 10 balls later for a well-made 59, while Oscar Newell managed only one run from 11 balls, as Eastern Hill slumped to 4-178 in the space of a few overs.

But it proved a minor blip, as Nathan Fowler and Ollie Bryant combined for another 90-plus run partnership, blasting 93 together in 12.5 overs at a blistering run rate of more than seven per over, with Fowler adding 46 from 48 with three fours and a six, while Bryant saluted his 50 off only 38 balls, which included seven fours.

The pair took the Eagles’ total to 271 before Fowler holed out, and while East Sunbury picked up a few late wickets, the damage had been done, with Eastern Hill posting a mammoth 7-312 from the allotted 80 overs, putting itself in the box seat to claim victory on day two this Saturday when it has its go in the field.