SATURDAY SPORT | PHOTOS

WHITE HILLS v STRATHFIELDSAYE

White Hills has moved a step closer to ending its Bendigo District Cricket Association finals drought following a pivotal win over Strathfieldsaye on Saturday.

Striving to secure their first finals berth since 1999, the Demons’ bowlers finished off the good work of their batsmen last week in what was a 118-run victory at Glen Loddon Homes Oval.

Chasing the Demons’ 4-319, the Jets never seriously threatened to mow the target down as they were bowled out for 201 in the 76th over in a loss that has cost them their position in the top four.

The Demons didn’t take long to assume control on Saturday as the Jets fell to 3-33 early, with Elijah Slater (0), Greg Lyon (5) and captain Ben Devanny (10) all back in the shed.

From there it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Jets, who had just one partnership worth more than 50 for the innings.

That was the 56 opener Stephen Brown (39 off 119) and Brad Rohde (46 off 121) added for the fourth wicket.

Andrew Stove later scored 39, while Pat Felmingham and Jack Stubbs both made 23 for the Jets, who lost their third game in a row.

Myles Wade (3-33 off 13) and young off-spinner Jack Bourke (3-37 off 13.1) - who took the best figures of his short career - picked up three wickets each for the Demons, while skipper Mitch Winter-Irving (2-34) claimed two scalps.

EAGLEHAWK v HUNTLY-NORTH EPSOM

Half-centuries from Josh Collinson and Anthony West helped Eaglehawk to a 113-run victory over Huntly-North Epsom at Poyser Motors Oval.

Chasing the Power’s 163, the Hawks made their highest score of the season as they answered with 7-276 after being 1-0 early following the dismissal of Aaron Monro (0).

Collinson passed 50 for the fourth time this season with his 76 off 88 that featured seven boundaries and two sixes, while West compiled 57 off 138.

The Hawks also had Cory Jacobs – who took 5-26 last week – make 47 to cap a fine all-round game as his side cemented second position.

Jakk Trenfield was the best of the nine bowlers used by the Power as he claimed 4-39 off 11 overs, including two caught-and-bowled, while the tireless Brett Elvey sent down a marathon 31 overs, finishing with 1-78.

KANGAROO FLAT v BENDIGO UNITED

Bendigo United moved back into the top four following its 59-run victory over Kangaroo Flat at N8 Health Oval.

The Roos were all out for 263 chasing the Redbacks’ imposing 9-322.

Captain Ben Gunn played a leading role with the ball for the Redbacks in snaring 4-80 off 24.2 overs.

After making a brilliant 162 last week – the BDCA’s highest score of the season – Leigh McDermott chipped in with 2-63 off 19 overs.

Opener Josh Newlan’s solid season continued for Kangaroo Flat as he top scored with 70 off 124 (eight fours, one six).

The Roos also had Lachlan Shelton make a half-century as the left-hander continued his return to form.

Shelton’s 64 off 76 was his highest score of the season.

Brent Hamblin (45) also made his best score of the season, while Adam Burns’ 28 was the most runs he has made since round two.

The best stand of the innings was the 90 Hamblin and Shelton added for the seventh wicket that pushed the score from 6-148 to 238.

Bendigo United climbed from fifth to fourth with the victory, while the defeat at home ended what had been a three-game winning streak for the Roos.

BENDIGO v STRATHDALE-MARISTIANS

Strathdale-Maristians retained its 13-year unbeaten record against Bendigo, but more importantly, kept its nine-point buffer at the top of the ladder.

The Suns – who haven’t lost to the Goers since 2002-03 – cruised to a 129-run win at Provincial Home Loans Oval after blasting the highest score of the season.

Resuming the day at 1-23 in reply to the Goers’ 229, the Suns compiled 358, led by a Cameron Taylor century.

Taylor plundered 114 in what was the sixth century of his career for the Suns – and third against Bendigo.

The left-hander – who came in with the Suns 2-51 – struck 13 boundaries and one six in his 145-ball innings.

With Taylor and Nick Baker at the crease, the Suns passed their target three wickets down on the way to what was their third score above 300 for the season.

Taylor and Baker put on 132 for the fourth wicket, lifting the score from 3-99 to 231.

Baker (50 off 99, eight fours) made a half-century, while Jayden Hicks later scored at better than a run-a-ball in an entertaining 56 off 52 that featured 42 runs in fours and sixes – three boundaries and five sixes.

Jotham Higgs (3-44 off 15) and Ryan Trickey (3-64 off 13.3) were the Goers’ leading wicket-takers, while Kyle Chant made the most of a rare chance to bowl.

Chant snared 2-23 off seven, dismissing both Baker and Taylor – his first career wickets in the first XI.

SANDHURST v GOLDEN SQUARE

Golden Square kept itself right in the finals hunt, while dealing a blow to Sandhurst’s chances of finishing in the top four with an 81-run win.

The victory closes the gap to the top four to just three points for Golden Square, which has now lost just one of its past seven games since starting the season 0-4.

Starting the day at 2-38 in reply to the Dragons’ 166 at Bendigo Door Centre Weeroona Oval, the game was in the balance when Square fell to 8-150.

However, the innings was resuscitated by Scott Woodman and Liam Smith, who batted Square out of a dicey position with a 76-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

Smith scored 29 off 96, while Woodman was the aggressor of the pair on his way to his maiden first XI half-century with an unbeaten 62 off 80 (six fours, two sixes).

Woodman’s 62 n.o. followed his 5-46 on day one a week earlier.

While Golden Square – which had seven players make at least 19 - is on the surge, Sandhurst has now gone winless in its past six matches. Brendan Klein-Boonschate (3-58) and Quinton Bentley (3-62) both took three wickets for the Dragons.

BDCA ladder:

Strathdale– 57

Eaglehawk – 48

White Hills – 39

Bendigo United – 36

Golden Square – 33

Strathfieldsaye – 33

Kangaroo Flat – 30

Sandhurst – 28

Bendigo – 27

Huntly-North Epsom – 3

Next round – Strathdale-Maristians v White Hills; Eaglehawk v Golden Square; Bendigo United v Huntly-North Epsom; Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat; Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.