Finished: 9th – 3-10.
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Round-by-round ladder position: 7th, 10th, 8th, 10th, 9th, 10th, 10th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 9th.
Twenty20 tournament: 4th in Section 1 – Craig Howard 93 runs, Eli Bowe 7 wickets.
Most BDCA Cricketer of the Year votes: Craig Howard (10).
Most Bendigo Advertiser-Bicknells votes: Craig Howard (18).
Addy Team of the Year: Nil.
Highest score: 101 – Craig Howard, v White Hills, round 7.
Best bowling: 5-37 – Craig Howard, v Bendigo United, round 3.
THE first season under the rein of new captain-coach Craig Howard yielded three wins for Sandhurst and a finish of ninth on the ladder.
The Dragons beat Kangaroo Flat twice and also defeated Strathfieldsaye to notch up their three wins in what was a season where plenty of young talent was given an opportunity at the top level.
The Dragons would be pleased with the ongoing development of young leg-spinner Liam Bowe.
Bowe gained another 147 overs of first XI experience this season and led Sandhurst’s bowling with 22 wickets.
Bowe’s older brother, Eli Bowe, also had a productive season with the ball, claiming 21 wickets
Howard overcame a slow start with the bat to end the season as one of the competition’s leading run-scorers with 462.
In one patch mid-season, Howard turned back the clock with consecutive scores of 80, 101 and 83 n.o.
Another of the Dragons’ experienced batsmen in Shane Robinson (264 runs) also bounced back from a lean start to make a strong finish after Christmas.
While Howard and Robinson are both seasoned campaigners, the most exciting young talent with the bat was Ned Slater (345 runs), who averaged 43.1 in 10 innings.
SEASON STATS:
BATTING:
Craig Howard - 462 runs @ 35.5
Ned Slater - 345 runs @ 43.1
Shane Robinson - 264 runs @ 18.9
Isaac Conway - 214 runs @ 21.4
Alex McGauchie - 203 runs @ 22.6
BOWLING:
Liam Bowe - 22 wickets @ 29.8
Eli Bowe - 21 wickets @ 23.7
Craig Howard - 17 wickets @ 29.9
Steve Becker - 11 wickets @ 27.6
Alex McGauchie - 7 wickets @ 37.6.