Bendigo's bowlers made Murray Valley work hard for the points.

A short time ago Murray Valley was 8-103 off 40 overs in reply to BDCA's 98.

Ben DeAraugo and Gareth Davies have two wickets each for Bendigo.

A 46-run sixth-wicket stand between Shaun Downie (33) and Ash Quinn (28) proved to be the difference between the two sides.

UPDATE 3pm: Murray Valley is edging its way to victory against the BDCA in their round one clash at Melbourne Country Week.

After 32 overs, Murray Valley is 5-76 in replay to the BDCA's poor total of 98.

Two runs outs shortly after the lunch breal saw Murray Valley slip to 5-39, but Shaun Downie (28 not out) and Ash Quinn (16 not out) have added 37 for the sixth wicket.

UPDATE 1.40pm: Three quick wickets has given the Bendigo District Cricket Association a glimmer of hope in its opening Melbourne Country Week clash with Murray Valley.

After being bowled out for just 98, the BDCA has Murray Valley 3-25 off 15 overs at lunch.

Opening bowlers Adam Burns (0-17 off 7) and Rhys Irwin (0-4 off 5) put the clamps on the MV batsmen early.

Leg-spinner Cam Taylor claimed the first wicket in his first over when he had Stanyer stumped for 13.

Then in the final over before lunch, off-spinner Gareth Davies claimed two wickets in two balls to leave MV 3-25.

The BDCA was dismissed in the 40th over, meaning MV has 60 overs to bat.

Spinners have claimed 10 of the 13 wickets to fall today, meaning Taylor and Davies hold the key to Bendigo's chances this afternoon.

EARLIER: THE Bendigo District Cricket Association has made a horror start to its Melbourne Country Week campaign.

A short time ago the BDCA were bowled out for 98 against Murray Valley at Greenvale.

Huntly North Epsom's Michael Hanson (32 off 50 balls) was the only batsman to pass 20.

After losing opener Travis King for 2 and Anthony West for 6, the BDCA recovered to be 2-54.

However, the loss of Cam Taylor for 16 sparked a stunning collapse.

From 2-54 the BDCA lost its final eight wickets for just 44 runs to be all out 98.

Gareth Davies (6), Sam Johnston (1), Ben DeAraugo (14), Linton Jacobs (2), Adrian Pappin (9), Adam Burns (1 not out) and Brent Hamblin (2) were Bendigo's other batsmen. 

"The wicket was a bit dampish and we would have bowled first had we won the toss,'' BDCA coach Max Taylor said.

"But that's no excuse, the batting was pathetic. There was a number of poor shots."

Murray Valley off-spinner Liam Evans bowled superbly, claiming 4-20 off 10 overs.