WHITE Hills will be defending a score of 244 and its position in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo District Cricket Association top four today when its game against Strathfieldsaye resumes.
White Hills is just four points inside the top four. A loss to the Jets will cost the Demons their top-four spot, with two rounds left to play after today.
With 244 on the board, largely thanks to 90 from opener Darren Gregory, the Demons hold the upper hand against a Strathfieldsaye batting line-up that has left too much up to its lower-order in recent weeks.
Ben Gunn with 31.6 is the only top-order Jets’ player averaging more than 30, but the skipper is enduring a rough patch with the bat.
Since his club record-equalling 160 against Sandhurst on December 3, Gunn has made scores of 12, 19, 19, 0 and 0, and no doubt will be keen to get back out in the middle and lead from the front today in what is a crucial game for his side.
If the Jets bat their 85 overs they will be right in the contest, but batting their overs out – even in the recent one-day matches – has been easier said than done for Strathfieldsaye this season.
Westy’s word: Have to go for the Demons based on the batting of the Jets in recent weeks.
● Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat are locked in a crucial battle at J.L. King Weeroona Oval, with both sides fighting for fourth position.
The Roos last week posted 188 – a score that’s both gettable for the Dragons, but defendable for Kangaroo Flat if the Roos can get some early wickets.
The Dragons have their top four batsmen in Dylan Gibson (43.6), Nick Scullie (37.0), Shane Robinson (33.8) and captain Anthony West (31.6) all averaging above 30, while Sandhurst also has Matthew Pask, Andrew Bourne and Travis Crouch capable of having an impact with the bat.
The Roos’ chances will rely heavily on the new-ball combination of captain Adam Burns (11 wickets) and Brent Hamblin (21) to get into the Dragons’ middle-order as early as possible.
Westy’s word: On a good batting track, if the Dragons are to be considered worthy finals contenders they should chase 188 against a team lower on the ladder.
● At Harry Trott Oval, top side Bendigo United is in the box seat to defeat Huntly-North Bendigo.
The Power could muster just 146 last week, although, it became a good score after the side had crashed to 7-38 in the 28th over.
The Redbacks will resume today on 1-41, with Heath Behrens on 17 and Wayne Fidler on nine.
Behrens made a century three weeks ago against Sandhurst to move within two of the BDCA record of 24 held by Wayne Walsh.
Can the star No.3 edge a step closer to Walsh’s record today?
Westy’s word: The Redbacks to have few problems chasing the Power’s total and post win No.8.
● Golden Square has the biggest score of the day to defend in its game against Eaglehawk at Canterbury Park.
Square last week posted 9-263 in an even batting performance where seven players made at least 20.
The Hawks have had their issues with the bat since the mid-season break as they have twice been bowled out for less than 140 in their past three games.
However, Eaglehawk showed with its 6-316 against White Hills in round six it has the capacity to make big scores, but at the moment the batting just isn’t clicking.
The best of the Hawks’ batsmen has been Jason Abbott (367 runs), who has been called in to the Melbourne Country Week squad to replace the injured Travis King.
Westy’s word: Golden Square hasn’t done too much wrong this season and should be confident of defending 263.
● With a win for Strathdale-Maristians over Bendigo at Bell Oval seemingly a formality, the main point of interest is whether the Suns will have a crack at trying for outright points.
After bowling Bendigo out for 153 last week, the Suns resume today at 2-113, with Cameron Taylor (39 n.o.) and Andrew Chalkley (35 n.o.), who can both score quickly, at the crease.
Westy’s word: Considering the Suns are in a fight for top spot with Bendigo United, surely with the commanding position they are in they will have a dip at outright points. Wouldn’t be surprised if they got them, either, based on the Goers’ batting effort last week.
● Ladder: Bendigo United (48 points, 1.69 per cent), Strathdale-Maristians (48, 1.38), Golden Square (42, 1.46), White Hills (33, 0.82), Huntly-North Bendigo (30, 1.05), Strathfieldsaye (30, 0.88), Sandhurst (30, 0.85), Eaglehawk (27, 0.88), Kangaroo Flat (27, 0.81), Bendigo (15, 0.67).
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