BDCA power Strathdale-Maristians is staring down the barrel of a rare 0-2 start.
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You have to go back to October, 2001, to find the last time BDCA power Strathdale-Maristians played the first two rounds of a season without a victory.
That season the Suns drew their round one clash with Sandhurst before losing their round two match to Bendigo.
The Suns were “unprofessional” in their loss to Eaglehawk last weekend according to skipper Linton Jacobs and face the much-hyped Sandhurst in an intriguing Saturday-Sunday contest at Bendigo Door Centre Weeroona Oval this weekend.
“Sandhurst will be full of confidence after their win last week, so it’s going to be a massive game for us,’’ Jacobs said on Friday.
“It’s a huge test for us, but it’s one we’re really excited about.
“We were disappointing last week against Eaglehawk. We need to concentrate on our game this week and focus on the way we want to play.
“We were unprofessional last week and I’m hoping the boys bounce back this week and show what we’re really about.”
The last time Strathdale and Sandhurst met the Dragons went within three runs of chasing down the Suns’ total of 5-316.
Last year the Dragons were hoping to compete with the top teams. This season playing finals is an expectation.
They thumped Strathfieldsaye last weekend and the inclusion of England under-19 representative Zen Malik, Taylor Beard and Sam Sperling has the Dragons better equipped, especially with the bat, to take on the big boys of the competition.
“It’s easy to score at Weeroona Oval when you have wickets in hand, so we need to bowl tight and bowl one side of the wicket,’’ Jacobs said.
“We’re looking for a big effort from everyone.”
The Suns cause has been aided by the return of star all-rounder Cam Taylor, who arrived back in Bendigo on Thursday after spending the winter playing cricket in the UK.
“Cam’s a very good cricketer, but just as important he’s a great competitor,’’ Jacobs said.
“We lacked that last week. We were flat against Eaglehawk, so to have him back is a big bonus for us.”
The Suns have dropped Jayden Hicks to the second XI because the all-rounder is leaving Bendigo next month.
“It’s a tough one because we don’t want to be 0-2, but Hicksy is only here for a few more weeks and we didn’t want to send the wrong message by not playing one of the other guys,’’ Jacobs said.
“Hicksy understands that and he’s happy to play in the second XI.”