BENDIGO United began the defence of its BDCA Twenty20 title with a superb run chase on Tuesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bendigo looked to be in the box seat when it smashed 4-170 after it won the toss and batted first against the Redbacks at Atkins Street.
However, despite a disastrous start, the Redbacks produced a brilliant run chase to answer with 5-171 and win with eight balls to spare.
The Redbacks lost their marquee player, Nicholas Ross (0), first ball of the innings when he was bowled by Alex Pearson (1-32).
However, the Redbacks recovered with a cluster of better than a run-a-ball contributions to get over the line.
Bendigo United’s successful run chase was led by Jake Thrum (46 n.o. off 30), captain Harry Donegan (37 off 25), Tyson Templeton (30 off 19), Miggy Podosky (28 n.o. off 22) and Chris Howgate (21 off 12).
The Redbacks were in some strife when they fell from 2-87 to 5-95, before Thrum and Podosky regained the momentum for their side and steered the defending champions to victory.
Earlier, Kyle Humphrys (48 off 38), skipper Shane Koop (41 off 37), William Collicoat (36 off 19) and James Seymour (29 off 21) combined to score the bulk of Bendigo’s 170 runs.
RELATED – BENDIGO V BENDIGO UNITED | PHOTOS
The match, which featured a total of 341 runs scored, included a combined 22 sixes and 16 boundaries.
• Kangaroo Flat made light work of another run chase, just like it did in round one against Strathfieldsaye.
This time it was against Eaglehawk at Dower Park as the Roos backed up a fine bowling performance with a strong showing with the bat.
The Roos’ Jay McLeod’s 3-15 helped restrict Eaglehawk to 8-98 after it was sent in.
Only Todd Brown (21 n.o. off 19) made more than 20 for the Hawks, who struggled from the outset when dangerman Andrew Smith was dismissed for a duck.
In reply the Roos took just 14.1 overs to chase down their target, cruising to 3-102 to win by seven wickets.
Like the Hawks, the Roos had also been 1-0 following the early dismissal of Daniel Barber (0).
Dylan Gibson – coming off a century against Eaglehawk last Saturday – top-scored for the Roos with 47 off 36, while opener Jamie Dass batted through the innings to finish 31 n.o. off 33.
• In Tuesday night’s other games, Sandhurst (6-114) beat Huntly-North Epsom (8-113) and Golden Square (5-119) was too strong for Strathfieldsaye (5-116).
Golden Square’s winning total featured an unbeaten 40 from Tim Wood and 35 from skipper Ben Gunn.
• Team records – Bendigo (1-1), Bendigo United (1-0), Eaglehawk (0-1), Golden Square (1-1), Huntly-North Epsom (1-1), Kangaroo Flat (2-0), Sandhurst (1-1), Strathdale (0-1), Strathfieldsaye (0-2), White Hills (1-0).
