THE inaugural combatants in the Bendigo District Cricket Association’s first one-day final will be decided on Saturday.
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And Bendigo captain-coach Shane Koop is determined to ensure the Goers will be one of the participants on Australia Day at the QEO.
The BDCA has this season introduced a one-day final into its schedule, with the top two teams from the four one-day rounds to qualify.
READ MORE – ONE DAY-FINAL SET FOR AUSTRALIA DAY AT QEO
Heading into Saturday’s final one-day round following last week’s heat-out, Koop’s Goers are top of the one-day ladder with a 2-0 record following wins over Huntly-North Epsom and White Hills and net run-rate of +0.77.
Golden Square (+0.62 NRR) and Sandhurst (+0.19 NRR) are also undefeated in one-day games this season.
“The chance to play in the one-day final is a huge focus for us on Saturday,” Koop said on Friday.
“We’re excited by the opportunity and we think the chance to play in it would help with our growth as individuals and as a club.”
The Goers take on Bendigo United – yet to win a one-day game – at Atkins Street on Saturday.
While a win over the Redbacks would propel the Goers into the one-day final, it would also be another step towards a return to the finals in the season-proper for the first time since 2010-11.
The surprise-packet Goers resume their season on Saturday third on the ladder with a 5-2-1 record.
“The club hasn’t played finals for a long period of time. We’ve given ourselves a platform and we’ll be pressing hard over these next five games,” Koop said.
As well as spots up for grabs in the one-day final, Saturday’s round nine features the top two teams on the season-proper ladder facing off when Strathdale-Maristians hosts Golden Square, as well as a vital clash between fifth and sixth when reigning premier Eaglehawk travels to Kangaroo Flat.
• Saturday’s one-day games: Huntly-North Epsom v White Hills, Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk, Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst, Strathdale-Maristians v Golden Square, Bendigo v Bendigo United.
• Tips: White Hills, Eaglehawk, Sandhurst, Golden Square, Bendigo.
READ MORE – WEEKEND CRICKET TEAMS
• BDCA one-day ladder:
1 – Bendigo
2-0, +0.77 NRR
2 – Golden Square
2-0, +0.62 NRR
3 – Sandhurst
2-0, +0.19 NRR
4 – Strathdale
1-1, +0.25 NRR
5 – Eaglehawk
1-1, +0.20 NRR
6 – Kangaroo Flat
1-1, +0.10 NRR
7 – Strathfieldsaye
1-1, -0.14 NRR
8 – Bendigo United
0-2, -0.41 NRR
9 – White Hills
0-2, -0.43 NRR
10 – Huntly-North Epsom
0-2, -1.19 NRR