Bendigo’s hopes of contesting the Provincial Group final at Melbourne Country Cricket Week are still alive after yesterday’s dominant performance against South West at Kew.
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After winning the toss and batting, Bendigo reached 5-288 from its 50 overs, with Strathdale-Maristians’ Cam Taylor hitting a blistering 106.
Bendigo’s bowlers then steamrolled South West for 135.
Seeking quick runs to boost its run rate, Bendigo was 5-66 in its second innings.
After a loss to provincial group favourites Geelong on Monday, the victory keeps Bendigo in the hunt for Friday’s decider.
“Realistically we’re probably going to have to win every game; it is possible,” coach Max Taylor said.
The decision to move Suns opener Taylor to number four has paid off for Bendigo.
The reigning BDCA Cricketer of the Year was out of form before this week, but has now smashed 106 from just 83 balls to go with his top score of 61 in a loss to Geelong on the opening day.
“We class him as our best batsmen down here, obviously, so instead of him going out to open and getting a nick early we thought we’d put him in at four and he’s got 60 and a hundred,” Max Taylor said.
Taylor and Eaglehawk’s Anthony West, 77 from 111 balls, were the mainstays of the Bendigo innings yesterday, which was given a flying start by Sam Johnston.
The Huntly-North Epsom all-rounder was elevated to open with Aaron Monro (1) and belted 45 from 51 deliveries.
When he fell the score was 2-73, bringing Taylor to the crease with West and the pair set about building a platform with a 90-run partnership.
West fell with the score on 163 and was followed by Leigh McDermott (15) 30 runs later.
Skipper Adam Burns (24 not out) joined Taylor and the pair added 82 before the latter was caught in the covers.
Youngster Alex Pearson, eight not out from five balls, belted a six at the death to increase the total.
No South West bowler took multiple wickets and most struggled with the bat.
South West was reduced to 5-59, before recovering to 5-105.
It then lost 4-9 before a 10th-wicket partnership of 21.
Eaglehawk’s Corey Jacobs had the best figures of 3-23 from seven overs after cleaning-up the lower order.
McDermott grabbed 2-29, while Richard Tibbett, Brent Hamblin and Taylor each picked up a wicket.
Bendigo faces a tough match against perennially strong Mornington Peninsula at Melbourne University today.
BENDIGO V SOUTH WEST
at Kew
South West won toss and bowled.
Bendigo first innings
A. Monro c S. Castle b C. Baker 1
S. Johnston c G. Bourke b S. O’Neill 45
A. West c T. Lamont b F. Lucas 77
C. Taylor c S. Castle b T. Lamont 106
L. McDermott c C.Baker b G. Grinter 15
A. Burns not out 24
A. Pearson not out 8
Extras 13
Five wickets for 288
Fall: 8, 73, 163, 193, 275.
Bowling: S. Baker 5-1-0-20, C. Baker 9-1-1-71, G. Bourke 5-0-0-25, S. O’Neill 10-1-1-31, B. Grinter 6-0-1-39, R. Lucas 7-0-1-55, T. Lamont 8-0-1-40.
South West first innings
C. Sargeant c A. West b A. Burns 1
J. Barr c L. Jacobs b B. Hamblin 12
S. Baker lbw b L. McDermott 28
S. Castle c L. Jacobs b C. Jacobs 31
G. Grinter c L. Jacobs b L. McDermott 2
T. Brown run out 3
Q. Baker stpd L. Jacobs b C. Jacobs 28
T. Lamont c L. McDermott b C. Taylor 1
G. Place c R. Tibbett b C. Jacobs 4
F. Lucas b Tibbett 10
S. O’Neill not out 11
Extras 4
Total 135
Fall: 7, 42, 42, 47, 59, 105, 110, 110, 114, 135.
Bowling: R. Tibbett 8.4-0-1-37, A. Burns 6-2-1-12, B. Hamblin 7-2-1-18, L. McDermott 6-0-2-29, C. Jacobs 7-0-3-23, C. Taylor 4-3-1-12.
Bendigo second innings
B. Hamblin c C. Baker b S. O’Neill 1
L. McDermott run out 0
C. Jacobs lbw b S. O’Neill 2
A. Pearson c F. Lucas b S. Baker 26
C. McGlashan not out 25
L. Jacobs c J. Reid b C. Sargeant 1
A. Burns not out 8
Extras 3
Five wickets for 66
Fall: 1, 1, 10, 51, 53. Bowling: S. O’Neill 3-0-2-11, B. Grinter 2-0-0-13, T. Lamont 2-0-0-16, S. Baker 3-0-1-21, C. Sargeant 1-0-1-2.
Bendigo won on first innings by 153 runs
Day two results:
Provincial: Murray Valley 9-253 (S. Downie 52, S. Thomson 48, D. Grandell 41) d Leongatha 170 (G. Kednath 70, T. Glover 6-32, S. Healey 3-38). Sale-Maffra 9-196 (J. Rurawhe 59, M. Dowsett 55) d Ballarat 154 (J. Knowles 69, T. Tatterson 4-17). Mornington Peninsula 2-122 (S. Phillips 52) d Geelong 102.
Div. 2: Ferntree Gully 9-231 d Hamilton 9-213, Warrnambool 6-290 d Yarra Valley 143, Bairnsdale 172 and 2-17 d West Gippsland 157, Benalla 187 and 0-9 d Traralgon 161.
Div. 3: Mornington Peninsula 9-265 d Colac 141, Sunraysia 7-219 d Gisborne 182, Goulburn Murray 8 declared 189 d Wangaratta 76.
Div. 4: Albury Wodonga 138 and 3-105 d Warragul 101, Central Gippsland 200 d Shepparton 192.