Pre-tournament favourite Geelong inflicted a 51-run loss on Bendigo at Altona.

Batting first, Bendigo made 7-167 off 50 overs before Geelong replied with 7-218.

“We didn’t play poorly and Geelong is a very good side,’’ Taylor said.

“We’ve got something to build on for the rest of the week.

“The wicket today did a bit early and we lost a couple of early wickets which put us on the back foot.

“Geelong bowled really well through the middle of the innings and in the end we probably did well to get 167.”

Strathdale’s Cam Taylor was the mainstay of the Suns’ innings, compiling a hard-fought 61.

His Suns’ skipper Linton Jacobs added 38 not out in the latter overs to ensure Bendigo had something to bowl at.

Bendigo needed to take early wickets to put pressure on Geelong, but two dropped catches proved costly.

Opener Sam Hall (48), skipper Chris Bambury (72) and Mark Hanley (56 not out) guided Geelong past Bendigo’s total for the loss of three wickets.

“I thought we bowled okay throughout, it was just the odd loose ball that hurt us,’’ Taylor said. “The dropped catches early on didn’t help, either.”

Richard Tibbett and Aaron Monro were the most successful Bendigo bowlers with two wickets each.

Cam Taylor rounded out a good game with 1-38 off 10 overs bowling leg-spin.

Bendigo plays South West at Kew in today’s second round.

BENDIGO v GEELONG

at Altona

Geelong won toss and bowled

Bendigo innings

A. Monro b J. Harrison 21

R. Grundy lbw N. Yates 0

A. West c J. Casey b N Yates 4

C Taylor c E. Vines b B. Haunestein 61

C. McGlashan c Casey C Bambury 15

S. Johnston b Haunstein 7

L. Jacobs not out 38

L. McDermott lbw C. Bambury 0

A. Burns not out 19

Extras 2

Seven wickets for 167

Fall: 0, 8, 38, 90, 99, 116, 118.

Bowling: J. Vrbovski 6-2-0-17, N. Yates 10-1-2-37, J. Foss 9-1-0-42, J. Harrison 5-0-1-22, C. Bambury 10-0-2-24, B. Haunstein 10-3-2-24.

Geelong innings

S. Hall lbw L. McDemott 48

E. Vines c R. Grundy b B. Hamblin 15

C. Bambury c and b A Monro 72

N. Yates b C. Taylor 4

M. Hanley not out 56

S. O’Neill c L. Jacobs b R. Tibbett 5

J. Foss c L. Jacobs b A. Monro 0

J. Vrbo b R. Tibbett 5

B. Haunstein not out 7

Extras 6

Seven wickets for 218

Fall: 41, 108, 115, 184, 199, 202, 207.

Bowling: R. Tibbett 10-0-2-36, A. Burns 8-2-0-44, B. Hamblin 5-0-1-27, M. Podosky 7-2-0-17, C. Taylor 10-2-1-38, L. McDermott 6-1-1-23, A. Monro 4-0-2-27.

Geelong won by 51 runs.