After being sent in, the host compiled a respectable 187 on a good batting pitch.

Early it looked like a score of 250 was a possibility but a middle- and lower-order collapse ended those hopes.

New City has consistently made scores of more than 200 this year.

It will resume next Saturday on 1-32 but Yackandandah skipper Tom Russell isn’t phased.

“I think we’ve got a really good chance,” Russell said.

“We’ve got them one down and I think we’ve got the bowling attack to win the match.

“We’ll turn to Tommy (Tom) Cencic and Mick Walker.

“Tommy’s been in great form and has played a couple of representative games and Mick played in the Charity Big Bash final the other night and had a win, so they’re both in form.”

Second-drop Walker and opener Jack Best were the cornerstones of Yackandandah’s first innings.

Both men made 50s but fell soon after reaching their milestones.

Russell, who was stumped by Luke Bartley off the bowling of Sam Drury for a duck, said at 2-112 he was looking at a much bigger total.

“At that stage we were probably looking at something between 200 and 250 but we crumbled a bit after a good start,” he said.

“I think 187 was pretty much par for the day.

“New City bat a long way down the order and have made some good scored so we really need to take early wickets.”

Big Bash and CAW representative star Sam Drury (4-46) was responsible for New City containing the home side under 200.

Elsewhere Dederang is in a commanding position against Howlong in Howlong.

Barnawartha-Chiltern had a first innings win against Baranduda and Mount Beauty is just 30 runs shy of reaching Eskdale’s 150, with nine wickets in hand.

And Kiewa celebrated its 125th anniversary in style bowling out Bethanga for 98 and reaching the target in 25 overs.

On Saturday night Kiewa awarded life membership to Alan Streeter, Rob Bartel, David Coulston, Stuart Lancaster and Margaret Sutherland.