HAVING lost last year’s Bendigo District Cricket Association grand final by seven runs to Strathdale, Eaglehawk gets its shot at redemption this weekend when it takes on Bendigo United at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
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THE SEASON: For the first time in a decade the Hawks finished on top of the ladder, ending the home and away season with nine wins, two losses, a tie and a draw.
The Hawks haven’t been beaten since losing to Sandhurst in round four on November 12, with their unbeaten streak now at 10 following last weekend’s eight-wicket semi-final hiding of Strathdale.
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THE BATTING: This has been the Achilles Heel of the Hawks in recent seasons, but has been much more consistent this summer.
The standout with the bat has been their evergreen veteran Andrew Smith at the top of the order and without doubt, he holds one of the biggest keys to the result this weekend.
The aggressive Smith has cracked 519 runs for the season, and of the 10 scores above 50 made by Eaglehawk players, he has five of them.
Smith will take the attack to the Redbacks from the outset and if he can get in and get going, is capable of anything. The Redbacks certainly don’t need any reminding of the 127 he made against them in last season’s semi-final.
Smith will open the batting with Matt Ford (185), who has made his return to first XI cricket this season for the first time 2008-09.
Behind Smith’s 519 runs is Shane Murdoch with a distant 303. Murdoch came into the Hawks’ side four rounds into the season under the radar and has added another steadying influence in the batting line-up.
Wicket-keeper Matt Fitt (223) – a dual Eaglehawk premiership player – has provided stability in the middle-order and of the 22 players who will take to the field this weekend, he has the season’s best batting average of 55.75.
With scores of 73 n.o., 30, 46 n.o., 23 n.o.and 42, Fitt’s average over his past five innings balloons to 107.
What’s perhaps one of the biggest surprises this season is the Hawks have been able to finish on top of the ladder with Josh Collinson (172) and Anthony West (147) barely firing a shot with the bat.
Last season Collinson and West were the Hawks’ two leading run-scorers with more than 500 each and a combined 10 scores above 50 – this summer their combined aggregate is 319 with one score above 50.
If the Hawks can get at least one of Collinson or West to fire and contributions from the likes of Zac East (204), captain Cory Jacobs (160), Cam McGlashan (172) and Aaron Monro (107) and learn the lessons from last year’s late collapse if they are batting second again, they will certainly take some beating.
Batting stats:
Runs per wicket – 22.40. Balls faced per wicket – 44.18. Run-rate – 3.04. 100s – 0. 50s – 10. Ducks – 15.
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THE BOWLING: The Hawks have been lauded for their bowling in recent seasons, and this campaign has been no different, despite the absence of a spinner.
Paceman Richard Tibbett (33 wickets) has led the attack superbly, particularly after the Christmas break in which he has taken 23 scalps in his past seven games.
Tibbett’s battle against the likes of Ben Gunn, Heath Behrens and Clayton Holmes will be a must-watch highlight of the grand final.
Cory Jacobs – who took five wickets in last year’s grand final – is arguably one of the most under-rated bowlers in the competition, but has had another fine season, taking 24 wickets and building pressure with tight lines.
Shane Murdoch (9) has provided the Hawks with some variety with his left-armers, while Andrew Smith (21), who has taken 5-8 off 11 overs the past two games, Aaron Monro (14) and Cam McGlashan (6) will ensure the Hawks can keep the pressure on the Redbacks for 85 overs.
Bowling stats:
Runs against per wicket – 16.93. Economy rate – 2.45. Strike rate – 41.55. Maiden % – 29.24.
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CAPTAIN’S COMMENT: “We’ll take a lot of confidence out of last week (semi-final win over Strathdale). We had our backs to the wall a bit at the start when they got off to a flyer, but we pegged it back well.
“We have confidence knowing we can still bowl a team out after not having the best start and then going on with it with the bat.
“We’re in good form at the moment and hopefully, it continues on Saturday and Sunday.” – Cory Jacobs.
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SEASON RESULTS:
Rd 1: 0-0 dr Golden Square 0-0.
Rd 2: 7-168 def Strathdale 136.
Rd 3: 85 & 1-26 lt Bendigo United 8-251.
Rd 4: 143 lt Sandhurst 231.
Rd 5: 116 & 6-141 def Bendigo 110.
Rd 6: 8-281 def Kangaroo Flat 8-220.
Rd 7: 5-202 def White Hills 108.
Rd 8: 9-170 tied Huntly-North 170.
Rd 9: 5-178 def Strathfieldsaye 5-177.
Rd 10: 8-209 def Golden Square 131.
Rd 11: 246 def White Hills 190.
Rd 12: 152 def Huntly-North 84.
Rd 13: 9-231 def Strathfieldsaye 128.
SF: 2-116 def Strathdale 113.
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SELECTION – Bendigo United. Should be a cracker of a grand final contest to bring the curtain down on the season. However, the Redbacks look to have more match-winners in their side and the ability to spread the load better if a couple of key players under-perform on the big stage.