Bendigo District Cricket Association Triumphs

THE Bendigo District Cricket Association achieved back-to-back victories in last night’s Pride of Bendigo cricket clash with the Emu Valley.Because of some rain, the senior clash at the QEO was shortened to 15 overs per side.Kangaroo Flat’s Brad Orton and Matt Kile were the stars for the BDCA in a 62-run victory.Bragging rights were at stake in match that was a fund-raiser for the State Emergency Service and a chance for the community to recognise the volunteers.Orton capitalised on some wayward bowling by the Emus attack to score 54 runs off 28 deliveries.Warming up for his first Melbourne Country Week carnival in many summers, Orton’s hot form rolled on in last night’s clash.After eight overs, the Adam Burns-led BDCA was 3-109 and poised to score well above the 180-mark.The Emus fought back superbly through the accuracy of United’s Keiran Nihill, 4-14 off 17 deliveries and clubmate Josh White.Spring Gully captain Shaun Makepeace also slowed the run-rate through his accuracy.A highlight was White capturing two wickets in an over on the way to match figures of 3-28.Bendigo passed the 150 mark in the 12th over, but the Emus kept the heat on.The Emu Valley took 6-43 and dismissed the BDCA for 147 off 14 overs.The Emus made a flying start to score 10 runs off the first over.One of the competition’s leading wicket-takers this summer, Strathdale-Maristians star Ben DeAraugo conceded just two runs off the second over of the chase.After four overs, the Emus were 1-20, with captain Scott Ross from Marong having being caught by wicketkeeper Matt Fitt off the bowling of Eaglehawk teammate Richard Tibbett.Axe Creek clubmates Shane Robinson and Matt Beck then teamed for a 29-run partnership.Burns sprung a surprise at the start of the sixth over when he called on Linton Jacobs, the keeper and captain from Strathdale-Maristians, to bowl his leg-spin.Robinson’s stint at the crease was ended when caught by Gunn off the bowling of Kangaroo Flat’s Matt Kile.In the same over, Kile bowled Matt Beck, 27.The Emus were 3-50 by the end of the ninth over against an attack that did not bowl too many loose deliveries.By the halfway mark, the Emus had struck just four boundaries and no sixes.Kile then celebrated his fourth wicket when White was adjudged leg before wicket as the Emus went on to reach 8-95.In the earlier game, the BDCA’s young guns won the battle of the under-20 teams. Emu Valley scored 88 off 18 overs, with James Smith, 23, and Kyle Dundas, 20, the leading batsmen.Best of the BDCA attack were Mitch Collins, three wickets in four deliveries, Lincoln Jacobs, 2-11, and Darcy Geyer, 2-20.Bendigo reached 3-89 off 15 overs as Jacobs, 28, Harry Donegan, 17, and Geyer, 16 retired, led the way.