A final-over onslaught has proved crucial in Yackandandah grabbing top spot.
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Mick Walker blasted 23 runs off Haydon Wilson, including three 6s and a boundary.
It pushed the visitors to 9-166.
“Their bowling made it difficult to score, but we set out to get 160,” Walker said.
Lewis Parsons finished with 4-25.
Eskdale started superbly, with Shaun Baude in dynamic form.
“Shaun pasted me all over the place, and they came out all guns blazing,” Walker said.
“But we clawed them back in the middle overs by taking the pace off the ball.”
Andrew Lockett was outstanding, snaring 5-14 as Eskdale was bowled out for 144.
“’Plugger’ bowled really well, he’s a bit deceptive off that short run, but he took some crucial wickets,” Walker said.
Baude finished with 53.
The win has lifted the Kangaroos into the competition lead, with a three-one record.
“Kiewa is still the benchmark, they haven’t lost a game,” Walker said.
“We’re not getting carried away, although we’re happy with what we’ve achieved with the numbers we’ve had.
“We haven’t been able to get the same 11 on the field yet, but to lead the comp means nothing at this stage.
“One year we were a game clear at the bottom of the ladder early on and made the grand final.”
Yackandandah has missed the past two finals series after being a regular finalist for an extended period.
Kiewa, meantime, has won its three games, with Sean Taylor hitting 56 as the home team smashed 6-198 against Bethanga.
The visitors replied with 130.
Sundries top-scored with 30, Kiewa bowling 24 wides.
However, Ryan de Vries continued his stellar start, claiming 4-40.
The representative quick has 17 wickets at the incredible average of 4.59.
Elsewhere, Wodonga claimed a three-wicket win over Baranduda.
The visitors compiled 8-147, Paul Munro with 50.
Andrew Berg made 67, while Craig Scammell chipped in with three wickets.
Mount Beauty proved too strong against cellar-dweller, Howlong.
Mount Beauty scored 128, but Howlong never looked likely, falling for 71.
And it was another low-scoring clash in Dederang’s one-wicket win over Barnawartha-Chiltern.
Murray Price posted 32 in the Miners’ total of 114, with Ethan Albon grabbing 4-14.
Blake Nikolic top-scored with 36, and despite Price’s fine double of 4-30, Dederang edged home by one wicket in the closest game.
