A SIX-WICKET haul from leg-spinner Cam Taylor has put Strathdale-Marisitans in a commanding position against ladder-leader Golden Square in round 12 of the Bendigo District Cricket Association.

Taylor snared 6-42 from 20 overs as the Suns dismissed the reigning premier for just 151 at Wade Street.

In reply, the Suns lost two wickets in the final two overs of the day, but remain in a strong position at 2-32.

Earlier, paceman Ben DeAruago did the early damage to have Square teetering at 3-29.

Phil Hetherington and skipper Grant Connelly appeared to settle the ship for Square, but Hetherington’s dismissal for 28 sparked a rare collapse for the Bulldogs.

Taylor took the final six wickets of the innings, including the vital scalp of Connelly for 49.

The Suns’ performance lost a little bit of its gloss when Taylor (10) and Jonathan Davidson (0) were dismissed cheaply.

With games to come against Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst, a win next week would go a long way to securing a finals berth for the third-placed Suns.

Bendigo United did its push for a top-four spot no harm by making 6-287 against Sandhurst at the QEO.

The fifth-placed Redbacks could ill-afford to slip-up against the Dragons and their batsmen did the job.

For the second-straight game, openers Wayne Fidler (58) and Clint Prime (59) made half-

centuries each to set a solid foundation for star duo Heath Behrens and Matt Pinniger to capitalise on.

The classy left-handers made the most of the opportunity as they added 106 for the third-wicket.

Behrens made 75 and Pinniger 59 as the Redbacks posted their highest score of the season.