The Bulldogs looked set for a long night when Sandhurst’s top-order exploded out of the gates, but some tight bowling in the second half of the Dragons’ innings combined with a brilliant individual batting performance from Scott Trollope saw Square home.

High-profile marquee player Tom Kohler-Cadmore (26 off 17 balls), Zen Malik (47 off 30) and Craig Howard (15 off 15) hit 10 fours and four sixes between them to give the Dragons a flying start.

At 2-101 the Dragons had a score of 150-plus in mind, but when Trollope dismissed Malik the Sandhurst innings fell apart. They lost 8-31 to be bowled out for 132. Trollope took 3-21, while teenager Kyal Rasmussen continued his good form by claiming 2-15 off four overs.

Trollope was promoted to open the batting and the move paid off handsomely.

Unlike Sandhurst’s top-order, Trollope turned a bright start into a big score.

 He smashed 89 off 57 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, to guide the Dogs home with more than two overs to spare.

The win lifted Square to the top of pool one, but second-placed Kangaroo Flat has a game in hand.

The Roos remain undefeated after they ended Eaglehawk’s hopes of qualifying for the grand final.

Kangaroo Flat set up its win with the ball when it restricted the Hawks to 7-106 off 20 overs.

Chris Barber and Liam Jones took two wickets each for the Roos, while Aaron Monro (31) and Anthony West (24) were the only two batsmen to threaten for the Hawks.

In reply, the Roos looked in trouble at 4-58, but a well-compiled 32 off 23 balls from Mitch Collins saw them home.

Eaglehawk’s cause wasn’t helped by bowling nine wides, eight of which came from skipper Cory Jacobs.

Bendigo United moved to the top of pool 2 after defeating Bendigo by 10 runs.

Leigh McDermott was the hero for the Redbacks. He top scored with  39 in his side’s total of 116 and then took 5-23 as the Redbacks dismissed Bendigo for 106.

Skipper Shane Koop top scored for Bendigo with 28.

Meanwhile, the Huntly-North Epsom versus Strathdale-Maristians match didn’t go ahead because there was not a suitable pitch for play.

BDCA president Wayne Walsh said Huntly contacted the Suns on Saturday to ask if they could host the game because the Huntly pitch needed work and wouldn’t be ready for play.

Walsh said the Suns confirmed they could host the T20 game, but that plan was thwarted when the sprinklers came on on Sunday and flooded the wicket table.

“By that time Huntly had also watered its wicket area and had no hope of getting a wicket ready for Tuesday night,’’ Walsh said.

“The BDCA board will meet on Monday night to decide what to do with the game.”

Awarding Strathdale a win, sharing the points or finding a free date to replay the game are the three options for the BDCA board.

The result has huge ramifications for Strathdale as it tries to defend its title.

The top team in each pool at the completion of five rounds qualify for the grand final.

Round four results – Bendigo United 116 (McDermott 39, Donegan 21; Pearce 3-19, Andrews 2-23, Goodwin 2-35) def Bendigo 106 (Koop 28; McDermott 5-23, Gunn 2-11); 

Kangaroo Flat 5/108 (Collins 32*; Monro 2-21, Jacobs 2-34) def Eaglehawk 7-106 (Monro 31, West 24; Jones 2-17, C Barber 2-21); 

Golden Square 3/135 (Trollope 89, Smith 27*; Beard 2/22) def Sandhurst 132 (Malik 47, Kohler-Cadmore 26; Trollope 3-21, Rasmussen 2-15, Smith 2-22); 

Huntly-North Epsom  v Strathdale-Maristians (no play).

Ladders: Pool 1 – Golden Square 12 pts, 0.58 net run rate; Kangaroo Flat 12, 0.46; Sandhurst 6, 0.20; White Hills 6, -0.49; Eaglehawk 0, -1-.13. Pool 2 – Bendigo United 12, 1.08; Strathdale 6, 1.08; Bendigo 6, -0.18; Strathfieldsaye 6, -0.58; Huntly-North Epsom 0, -1.35.  

The washed out round three matches will be played next Tuesday, December 13.

Pool one: Eaglehawk v Golden Square, White Hills v Kangaroo Flat. Pool two: Strathdale-Maristians v Bendigo United, Strathfieldsaye v Bendigo.