BENDIGO United will win this weekend’s Bendigo District Cricket Association grand final against Eaglehawk, according to the majority of the competition’s captains.
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Six of the eight non-competing captains believe the Redbacks will triumph over the Hawks at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Only Bendigo’s Shane Koop and Strathdale-Maristians’ Linton Jacobs – who was on the end of an eight-wicket semi-final hiding from Eaglehawk last weekend – believe the Hawks will come out on top in the grand final and win their first premiership for 11 years.
What the captains think:
SHANE KOOP (Bendigo) – “I fancy Eaglehawk in what’s going to be a really tight contest.
“Both sides are strong with bat and ball and have good depth, but I think Eaglehawk will be driven by the fact they had some disappointment in the grand final last year and won’t want to feel that again.”
TIM WOOD (Golden Square) – “I think Bendigo United will get up. They have proven performers in finals with plenty of depth in their batting and their bowlers are lethal as well, as they showed last week.”
ELLIOTT MASSINA (Huntly-North Epsom) – “Bendigo United is the best side we’ve played this season and should get the chocolates on the weekend.
“BUCCs are the best all-round side in terms of batting, bowling and fielding.”
BRENT HAMBLIN (Kangaroo Flat) – “I think Bendigo United will win.
“The performances they’ve shown against us over the past couple of weeks… you can’t go past that.
“For Eaglehawk to win they are going to need Andrew Smith to go big with both bat and ball and Shane Murdoch to chip in with a good score, but overall I think BUCCs are primed and ready to go at the right time of the year.”
CRAIG HOWARD (Sandhurst) – “It should be an interesting contest over the two days… a lot of it is probably riding on Gunny (Bendigo United’s Ben Gunn).
“If Gunny comes off then BUCCs probably win, if he doesn’t then Eaglehawk probably wins, so that battle between Gunny and (Eaglehawk bowler) Richard Tibbett is going to be the big clash.
“I’m probably just leaning towards Bendigo United getting over the line in a tight one. The quality of their batting with Gunny, Heath Behrens and Clayton Holmes is potentially going to be the difference.”
LINTON JACOBS (Strathdale-Maristians) – “I’m tipping Eaglehawk to get the job done.
“I really like their bowling; it’s tight and disciplined and we saw last weekend just how well they are playing at the moment.”
BEN DEVANNY (Strathfieldsaye) – “It’s tough to go past Bendigo United and their batting, particularly with Gunny and Puggo (Heath Behrens).
“But their bowling also has good variety. They don’t have the quick that Eaglehawk does in Tibbett, but they have the variety with some spin and some different medium-pace options.”
MITCH WINTER-IRVING (White Hills) – “I’m leaning towards Bendigo United.
“They have a bit more depth and their top order batting is probably going to be the key.
“If Eaglehawk can get through that top order they are going to be a chance, but I think BUCCs’ batting depth will get them through.”
• The weekend’s grand final at the QEO starts at noon Saturday.
