Sport

Eastern Hill decimates Sunbury to remain unbeaten on top of ladder

By Alexander Dabb

Nov 25, 2025

Ben Bryant was in fine form at the weekend, snaring eight wickets across two innings to help Eastern Hill remain on top of the Johnstone Shield firsts ladder. Photo: Elite Edge Creative.

Eastern Hill remains on top of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Johnstone Shield firsts ladder for another week following a crushing two-day victory over Sunbury at the weekend.

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Having last week posted a mammoth total of 8-309 off the back of half-centuries to Billy Cox and Benjamin Bryant, it was the bowlers’ turn to shine at Kings Park on Saturday, tearing through the Kangaroos’ line-up to secure first innings points by 207 runs, before going close to securing an outright win by an innings.

With a huge total to defend, the Eagles’ bowlers were afforded plenty of margin for error, however wasted no time in claiming wickets on Saturday, with Bryant striking in the fourth over to have Sunbury down 1-6 early.

For the next 15 overs, the Kangaroos frustrated the Eastern Hill bowling attack, combining for the biggest partnership of their innings, however Nathan Fowler brought that to an end with his first scalp of the day to leave the visitors down 2-39.

Fowler (2-13) again found the breakthrough shortly after, leaving Sunbury at 3-48, however it was Daniel O’Sullivan who kick-started the collapse when he joined the party with his first wicket of the day.

Snaring three scalps and at one stage finding himself on a hat-trick, O’Sullivan led the Eagles’ attack as the Kangaroos tumbled from 3-70 to all out for 102, losing their final seven wickets for just 32 runs as Eastern Hill stormed to the first innings points.

Dean Fulco was also instrumental with ball in hand, claiming figures of 2-9 to help mop up the tail, while Bryant played his part with two late wickets, finishing with figures of 3-30.

In pursuit of the outright victory, Eastern Hill asked Sunbury to bat again, with the Kangaroos still 207 runs in arrears, and it was Bryant who took the Eagles to the cusp of an outright innings victory.

Roaring through the visitors, Bryant took 5-28 in a stunning 14-over cameo, supported by wickets to Matthew Collard (1-4) and O’Sullivan (1-13), however the Eagles were unable to wrap up the maximum of 10 points, running out of time with the Kangaroos surviving at 7-52.

However, the first-innings points ensure Eastern Hill remains at the top of the table heading into this week’s two-day clash against Lancefield, with two bonus points separating it from fellow unbeaten side Diggers Rest Bulla Village.