City United are ideally placed to down Bective East in a two-day clash at No.1 Oval, after Anoop Gopalakrishnan starred with the ball.
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Gopalakrishnan bagged 5-30 off 14 overs as Bective, who won the toss, were bowled out for 123 in 41 overs.
In reply, City reached 4-178 off 45 overs at stumps, with Tom Fitzgerald on 53 not out.
Cooper Barnes snared 2-48 off eight overs for Bective.
Toby Whale top scored for Bective East with 32.
Bective had a horror start when opener James Haling was removed for a second-ball duck by Tait Jordan, who finished with 3-32 off 12 overs.
Whale and Gerhard Labuschagne then steadied the ship somewhat, before Labuschagne went for 16 with the score on 33 off the bowling of Joey Mead.
In his second first-grade match, 14-year-old pace bowler Mead finished with 1-28 off six overs.
After Labuschagne fell, City United raced through Bective's batting order – with only Lachie Barton (26) offering resistance.