RELATED – LAST WEEK’S DAY ONE WRAP
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GOLDEN Square’s Scott Trollope put a massive dent in the Bendigo District Cricket Association finals aspirations of Kangaroo Flat when his direct hit run-out of Brent Hamblin forced a tie on Saturday.
The Roos’ last-wicket pair of Hamblin and Dylan Klemm had drawn level with Golden Square’s score of 142 at Wade Street when Hamblin – who had superbly held his team’s innings together – drove the ball past bowler Grant Connelly (1-8).
Hamblin was quick to call for a single before the ball was fielded at mid-off by Trollope, whose direct hit at the bowler’s end ran Hamblin out in a dramatic finish to a game that had plenty riding on it for Kangaroo Flat.
While Kangaroo Flat’s finals aspirations are still mathematically alive, the tie, which earned the Roos three points, leaves them nine points outside the top four with just two rounds to play.
As for Square, it was able to salvage three points from a game in which it was at one stage last week 6-20.
A gutted Hamblin heaved his bat back over his head after the run out, while Golden Square players rejoiced.
Hamblin (44) had battled valiantly to get his side over the line after starting his innings with the Roos – who had began the day at 3-50 – under the pump at 6-66.
It looked as though Hamblin could run out of partners when the Roos fell to 9-133 following a direct hit run-out by Liam Smith of Chris Barber (1), but Klemm (0 n.o.) stuck around long enough for the Roos to at least get three points out of the game.
Hamblin’s 44 was one of just six scores of at least 20 in a game dominated by the bowlers.
The others were team-mates Dylan Gibson (41) and Jamie Dass (20) and Golden Square’s Connelly (50), Smith (27) and Darren Clutton (22 n.o.).
Clutton’s 22 n.o last week came as part of what has now proven to be an extremely valuable last-wicket partnership of 28 with Saheed Akolade (8).
As well has his contribution with the bat, left-armer Clutton was also brilliant with the ball for Square in capturing 4-32 off 26 overs, which included 10 maidens.
• Eaglehawk looks set to carry the tag as the first reigning premier in 16 years not to make the BDCA finals after falling a mere four runs short against Strathdale-Maristians at the QEO.
The Hawks resumed their innings at 4-86 in reply to the Suns’ 133.
But Eaglehawk’s fight for survival this season was thwarted by Sam Johnston and Cameron Taylor, who combined for nine Suns’ wickets.
Johnston claimed the match-winning wicket – his fifth of the innings – when he bowled Richard Tibbett (4) to dismiss the Hawks for 129.
The Hawks dismissal for 129 – which leaves them 15 points outside the top four with two rounds remaining – comes after they had one stage been 0-55 last week.
Johnston finished with 5-34 off 23 overs to go with his 27 with the bat last week, while the competition’s leading wicket-taker, Taylor, took his tally of scalps to 28 with 4-50 off 30 overs.
The Hawks still had two wickets in hand with the score on 128 after Shaun Knott (14) had whacked Taylor for a six.
However, the introduction back into the attack of Johnston paid immediate dividends when he had Knott caught at gully by Jack Neylon, before Tibbett fell soon after.
As well as his removal of Knott, Neylon also took a sharp catch at gully off Johnston to dismiss Hawks’ first-gamer Ben Williams (11).
The last BDCA reigning premier to miss the finals was Strathfieldsaye in 2002.
But with the Hawks now headed down that path and Bendigo United likely to claim the wooden spoon, the BDCA is facing the rare scenario of neither of the previous season’s grand finalists making the finals.
• Sandhurst further strengthened its premiership credentials by leapfrogging Golden Square into second position following its outright win over Bendigo at Weeroona Oval.
The Dragons made their intentions clear early, immediately declaring at 3-158 in reply to the Goers’ 121.
While the Goers fared better in their second innings in getting to 155, they weren’t able to chew up enough time to close the door on the Dragons’ outright bid.
The Goers fought their way to 155 having one stage been 7-70, before Tom Hart was again part of a partnership that halted the flow of Bendigo wickets.
Hart (31) and Will Collicoat (44) added 65 for the eighth wicket for the Goers. In the first innings Hart put on 40 with Alex Pearson after coming in at 6-40.
Coming off a century last week, Dragons’ star Nayana Palamandadidge had another impact on the game – this time with the gloves.
The Dragons’ wicket-keeper ended the innings with seven catches, which included the first five dismissals.
After combining for seven wickets in the first innings, coach Taylor Beard (4-68) and Will Keck (3-30) again did so for the Dragons, whose target for outright points was 119 in 32 overs.
It took the Dragons 21 overs to reach 4-123 and inflict the second outright loss of the season on the Goers – a modern day BDCA rarity for a team that looks headed for the finals.
• Strathfieldsaye jumped a rung on the ladder with its third win of the season against Huntly-North Epsom at Tannery Lane.
Starting the day at 3-90 chasing the Power’s 130, the Jets added 54 runs to progress to 7-144 before rain brought an end to play.
Pat Felmingham’s 41 last week and skipper Ben Devanny’s 37 were the two top scores for the Jets.
Peter Moore’s 4-42 off 15 overs were the best bowling figures for the Power, who had wicket-keeper Brodie McRae snare five catches.
• For only the fourth time during the 2000s, White Hills has beaten Bendigo United.
The Demons sent the Redbacks a step closer to the wooden spoon with their victory at Harry Trott Oval.
Chasing the Redbacks’ 119, the Demons got over the line, but not before some anxious moments late when they lost 6-13 to crash from 2-104 to 8-117 as Bendigo United – led by spinner Jake Thrum – surged.
However, Ollie Geary (26) and Jack Bourke (2 n.o.) finished off the task, taking the score to 145 before stumps were pulled.
Star batsmen Mitch Winter-Irving (58) and Gavin Bowles (40) scored the bulk of runs for the Demons during a 99-run partnership for the third wicket.
Of the six wickets to fall in quick succession late, Thrum (4-18) took four of them, while Miggy Podosky finished with 3-50, plus the run-out of Ben Daley (4).
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LADDER:
Strathdale – 52
Sandhurst – 49
Golden Square – 48
Bendigo – 42
Kangaroo Flat – 33
Eaglehawk – 27
White HiIlls – 27
Strathfieldsaye – 24
Huntly-North – 18
Bendigo United – 12