BENDIGO United will line up in its eighth Bendigo District Cricket Association grand final in the past 12 years when it meets Eaglehawk at the Queen Elizabeth Oval this weekend.
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THE SEASON: The Redbacks spent three rounds on top of the ladder mid-season, but had to settle for a third-placed finish with eight wins, four losses and one draw.
Three of their losses were in one-day matches. Lucky for the Redbacks the grand final is a two-day contest.
Won their way through to the grand final inside one day last weekend with an eight-wicket semi-final demolition of Kangaroo Flat.
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THE BATTING: Any BDCA team would be licking their lips if they could have just one of the star trio of Ben Gunn, Heath Behrens or Clayton Holmes in their batting line-up.
But all three are at the Redbacks, which is what makes them such a potent side this weekend and why it’s no surprise Bendigo United was rated No.1 at the end of the home and away season in the Addy batting rankings.
The Hawks may be able to nip one of them out cheaply, perhaps two without too much damage being inflicted if they bowl well and have some luck, but all three?
The star trio have combined for 1461 runs this season – Gunn (557), Behrens (525) and Holmes (379).
From their combined 33 innings, they have 13 scores above 50, with Gunn (three) and Behrens (two) notching five tons between them.
While stalwart Behrens – eyeing a seventh Redbacks’ flag – is still a valued wicket as ever, it’s the explosive Holmes and Gunn who are the two who may only need to bat for an hour or so to leave a massive mark.
Mark Di Fede (333) has also been a solid contributor with the bat, giving the Redbacks a left-right opening combination with Gunn.
Whatever the equivalent of the “nervous 90s” is for 40s, Di Fede has had a frustrating dose of it this season, having been dismissed five times in the “fearful 40s”.
Outside of Gunn, Holmes and Behrens, the only other Redbacks’ player to have made a score above 50 is veteran Nick Crawford, who has two among his 195 runs.
Leigh McDermott (135) hasn’t had the season he would have liked with the bat considering he made 533 runs last summer, but what a time with the flag on the line it would be this weekend for the skipper to get back to hitting the ball as well as he did a year ago when he twice made scores above 160.
Batting stats:
Runs per wicket – 27.15. Balls faced per wicket – 49.56. Run-rate – 3.29. 100s – 5. 50s – 10. Ducks – 14.
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THE BOWLING: There has plenty been said about the strength of the Redbacks’ batting this season that their bowling may have been overshadowed.
But just ask Kangaroo Flat what the Redbacks’ bowlers are capable of given in the past fortnight Bendigo United twice bowled the Roos out for scores of 88 and 87.
The Redbacks’ bowling line-up has plenty of variety and like Eaglehawk’s attack, should be able to keep the heat on for 85 overs.
Wily veteran Nick Crawford (31 wickets) – chasing a seventh BDCA flag – looms as a major player this weekend if the QEO wicket takes spin, coupled with what has been a well-publicised issue for the Hawks in recent seasons in coping with spin.
That’s where fellow spinners Ben Gunn (7) and Jake Thrum (6) could also loom as a threat if thrown the ball.
Leigh McDermott (24) has had a brilliant season with the ball. But it’s not just his 24 wickets, it’s his average of 9.17 and economy rate of 1.95 from 113 overs that further tells the story of his impact.
Miggy Podosky (16) is in his best form of the season and coming off 4-10 in the semi-final last week, while Clayton Holmes (12) with his pace and aggression shapes as a potential handful for the Hawks’ batsmen.
It has been a lean season for Marcus Smalley with only four wickets, but could he be saving his best for when it matters most like he did in the 2010 grand final when he snagged five scalps against Strathdale?
Bowling stats:
Runs against per wicket – 18.33. Economy rate – 2.86. Strike rate – 38.55. Maiden % – 25.71.
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CAPTAIN’S COMMENT: “I think we’ve got a few potential match-winners in our side and if one guy isn’t to the level that we might require, then another will step up.
“That in itself, along with premiership experience and the fact we’re in form will all play a part this weekend.
“Hopefully, it will go our way.” – Leigh McDermott.
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SEASON RESULTS:
Rd 1: 0-0 dr Huntly-North Epsom 0-0.
Rd 2: 9-179 lt Golden Square 5-185.
Rd 3: 8-251 def Eaglehawk 85 & 1-26.
Rd 4: 9-319 def Bendigo 9-238.
Rd 5: 9-252 def White Hills 142.
Rd 6: 9-234 & 0-30 def Strathfieldsaye 133.
Rd 7: 177 lt Strathdale 7-182.
Rd 8: 247 def Sandhurst 156.
Rd 9: 7-139 lt Kangaroo Flat 7-140.
Rd 10: 8-252 def Huntly-North 9-185.
Rd 11: 9-247 lt Strathdale 8-251.
Rd 12: 9-292 def Sandhurst 226.
Rd 13: 9-221 def Kangaroo Flat 87 & 4-75.
SF: 2-92 def Kangaroo Flat 88.
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TAYLOR-WALSH MEDAL SELECTION: Clayton Holmes (Bendigo United). One of those players who looks like he will relish the big occasion of the QEO in March. Saw how damaging he is with bat and ball last week in the semi-final win over Kangaroo Flat.