WORCESTERSHIRE wicket keeper Ben Cox’s continued fine form with the bat was in vain as Greenvale Kangaroos went down by one run in a Victoria Premier Cricket Bartercard Men’s Premier First clash with Northcote.

The Kangaroos were dismissed twice in one day after Northcote had been bowled out for 261 on the opening d a y.

Greenvale were all out for 132 in their first innings with Cox scoring 22 and his county colleague Jack Shantry 10. Northcote then made 19-2 declared and set Greenvale a 149 target.

They were in deep trouble after losing their first five wickets for 56, including Shantry for a duck, but Cox kept alive their hopes.

He registered his fourth half century in seven innings for the Kangaroos this winter.

Cox was finally seventh out at 127 for a fine 68 and his side just came up short by the narrowest of margins.

Worcestershire opener Richard Oliver was also again among the runs for Geelong City who took con - trol of their two-day Geelong Cricket Association Division One clash with Bell Post Hill despite a sizeable collapse.

Opener and Geelong skip - per Oliver top-scored with 82 and shared in an opening stand of 110 with TS Elliot.

Once they had parted, wick - ets fell at regular intervals and Geelong were dismissed for 196 in 62.1 overs.

But then the home side were reduced to 25-6 from 18 overs with opening bowler K Agg having the remarkable figures of 9-6-6-4.

Joe Clarke’s side South Perth obtained first innings points against Subiaco Floreat on the second day of their Western Austral - ian Cricket Association first grade match.

Clarke had scored his sec - ond successive half-century out of 279-7 on the opening day last weekend.

Subiaco were then bowled out for 179 in 65.2 overs with England Under 19 wicket - keeper Clarke taking one catch. South Perth reached 91-4 in their second innings with Clarke nought not out.

Ed Barnard was amongst the wickets for Queanbeyan District on the opening day of their Australian Capital Territory first grade match with visiting Western Dis - trict UC.

The Worcestershire all- rounder had showed his prowess with the bat last weekend in scoring 76 in the win over Tuggeranong Val - ley.

This time the England Un - der 19 player took the new ball and was rewarded with three of the first four wick - ets to fall. His efforts helped CRICKET reduce Western District to 67-4 after they had elected to bat before they recovered to reach 248 all out. Barnard finished with figures of 3-58 from 12 overs.

Ross Whiteley was dis - missed for a single as Pros - pect CC were beaten by Port Adelaide on the second day of a South Australian Crick - et Association ‘A’ grade fix - ture. Whiteley had scored 98 not out against Sturt the pre - vious weekend.

But this time the New Road all-rounder was second out with just five runs on the board and his side reached 160 all out in 84.2 overs.

It was a target Adelaide reached for the loss of four wickets in 62.5 overs.