The BDCA's campaign to return to Melbourne Country Week's premier group started in fine style on Monday.
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An inspired performance from Strathdale-Maristians all-rounder Sam Johnston led the BDCA to a 135-run thumping of West Gippsland in their round one clash at Yarrambat.
After making a run-a-ball 38 at the top of the BDCA order, Johnston took 6-24 off 10 overs to complete the best individual bowling figures by a BDCA player at MCW since Nic Balic took 7-13 in 2007.
Johnston's spell came after West Gippsland had raced to 0-25 chasing the BDCA's total of 8-203.
The right-arm paceman used the up-and-down nature of the Yarrambat deck to his advantage.
He bowled stump-to-stump and four of his wix wickets were bowled or lbw.
Sandhurst's Taylor Beard bowled a similar line and length at the other end and he took 4-10 off five overs.
From 0-25, West Gippsland lost 8-17 and were eventually dismissed for just 68. Under new rules this season, the BDCA collected an all-important bonus point because it bowled out West Gippsland inside 40 overs.
The big win and bonus point saw the BDCA grab top spot in its pool heading into Tuesday's round two clash with Sunraysia at Northcote.
"We got off to a good start, but to be realistic this is a game we were expected to win,'' BDCA coach Wayne Walsh said.
"The good thing about it was our bowlers exploited the condition of the wicket.
"Sam Johnston bowled superbly and he was well supported by Taylor Beard.
"The wicket was a bit uneven and we held the catches that came our way."
Earlier in the day, a fine 66 from Bendigo's Kyle Humphrys was the backbone of the BDCA's total of 8-203.
Humphrys' 66 came off 96 balls and included four fours and two sixes.
Zane Keighran impressed in his MCW debut. The Golden Square teenager was given the big job of batting at number three and he showed his class by making 39 off 57 balls, including fiuve fours and one six.
Humphrys and Keighran added 63 for the third wicket.
At 2-112 after 25 overs the BDCA looked capable of posting 250-plus, but Keighran's departure spaarked a middle-order collapse.
Dylan Gibson fell for a first-ball duck, while skipper Ben DeAraugo (6) and Linton Jacobs (12) also fell cheaply.
It was left to Beard (21 not out) to lift the BDCA above the 200-mark.
"We didn't bat that well today albeit on a tough wicket,'' Walsh said.
"It's something for us to improve on against Sunraysia."
In the other game in the BDCA's division two pool, South West (9-205) defeated Sunraysia (193) in a close encounter.
The top two teams in the pool at the completion of Wednesday's third round qualify for Thursday's semi-finals.