STRATHDALE-Maristians’ hopes of a fourth-consecutive Bendigo District Cricket Association Twenty20 crown now appear over after a three-run loss to Huntly-North Epsom last night.
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Chasing the Power’s 8-122 at Bell Oval, the Suns fell just short as they answered with 9-119, with the three-time defending champions now winless after two games.
Chris Guinane top-scored for the Power in their innings, making 34 off 32, including four boundaries and one six.
Opener Ryan Grundy (21 off 15) and all-rounder Sam Johnston (24 off 26) also made valuable contributions as the Power improved their record to 2-1.
The game went down to the wire in the Suns’ innings when they required four off the last ball to tie.
However, Josh Collinson (0-11) restricted youngster Jack Neylon (6 not out off 3) to a single.
Earlier, No.3 Travis King scored 33 off 28 (four boundaries) in his return to the team, while Craig Howard (23 off 20) was the only other Suns player to pass 20.
Last night’s three-run win for the Power followed their one-run victory over Golden Square in their one-dayer on Sunday, and five-run triumph over Kangaroo Flat in their Twenty20 match a week earlier.
● Strathfieldsaye improved to 3-0 with its eight-wicket win over the young Bendigo at Atkins Street.
Batting first, the Goers were bowled out for just 70 in 15.2 overs, with only Nathan Fitzpatrick (20 off 18), Mark Ryan (14 off 15) and Jayden Sheean (12 off 15) scoring in double figures.
Jets’ left-arm spinner Liam Smith had a good night with the ball, taking 3-18 off four overs.
Strathfieldsaye passed its target in the 15th over as it responded with 2-74.
Cory Devanny led the way with 34 off 26, while opener Greg Lyon batted through the innings in scoring 16 not out off 42.
● Golden Square won its first game of the tournament, defeating Eaglehawk by five wickets at MyJet Oval.
A big crowd turned out to watch the game, which included Carlton AFL player Eddie Betts making a cameo appearance for Golden Square, taking 0-24 off three overs and making five with the bat.
Eaglehawk compiled a competitive 8-154 batting first.
Four players – Matt White (27), Matt Fitt (24), Jason Abbott (21) and Andrew Smith (20) – scored in the 20s for the Hawks.
However, Golden Square batted well in its innings to chase the target down in the 19th over.
The star with the bat for Square was the clean-hitting Scott Trollope. Batting at No.4, Trollope blasted an unbeaten 78, which included six boundaries and three sixes, in Square’s 5-155.
The other key batsman was Mat Christie (33, four fours, one six).
To add salt to the wounds for the Hawks, captain Abbott suffered a calf injury and retired hurt.
● Kangaroo Flat improved to 2-1 with a 23-run win over Sandhurst at J.L. King Weeroona Oval.
Brent Hamblin’s outstanding record as a Twenty20 opener continued for the Roos when he batted through the innings for an unbeaten 74 off 59 (seven fours) in Kangaroo Flat’s total of 3-179.
Adam Burns followed up his scores of 56 and 42 in the first two rounds with 42 off 30 balls.
The Roos then restricted the Dragons to 6-156 in their chase.
Openers Isaac Conway (33 off 15, four fours, two sixes) and Joel Schneider (32 off 28, one four, two sixes) gave the Dragons a solid platform with a 51-run opening stand, but the Roos hit back well.