For the second year in succession, the Bendigo District Cricket Association will play Warrnambool on the opening day of the 2017 Melbourne Country Week carnival.
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Bendigo defeated Warrnambool by one wicket in a thrilling encounter on day one this year before qualifying for the grand final where it was beaten by Geelong.
For the fourth year in a row, Bendigo has avoided Geelong in the preliminary round matches.
Ballarat and Bairnsdale are the other two teams Bendigo won’t play in the preliminary round matches in 2017.
After tackling Warrnambool at Werribee on day one, Bendigo plays Sale-Maffra at Box Hill on day two, Mornington-Peninsula at Princes Park in Carlton on day three and Traralgon at Walter Galt Reserve on day four.
Bendigo has beaten Mornington comfortably in its past two Melbourne Country Week clashes.
The last time Bendigo played Sale-Maffra was the 2015 grand final, which Sale-Maffra won by 12 runs.
Bendigo defeated Traralgon by 46 runs in 2015, while their match in 2016 was washed out.
The 2017 Melbourne Country Week carnival runs from January 30 to February 3.
BDCA squad – Nathan Fitzpatrick, Shane Koop (Bendigo), Clayton Holmes, Leigh McDermott, Miggy Podosky (BUCC), Liam Smith, Tim Wood (Golden Square), Adam Burns, Brent Hamblin, Jake Klemm (Kangaroo Flat), Taylor Beard, Zen Malik (Sandhurst), Ben DeAraugo, Jake DeAraugo, Linton Jacobs, Adrian Pappin (Strathdale). Coach: Matt Pinniger.