RELATED – WEEKEND FINALS CRICKET TEAMS
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RELATED – BDCA’S BEST MATCH-HAULS OF THE 2000S
THIS weekend’s Bendigo District Cricket Association semi-finals.
STRATHDALE-MARISTIANS v BENDIGO
at Bell Oval
A SEMI-FINAL match-up that could be billed as Master v Apprentice.
The minor premier Suns are lining up in their 13th-consecutive semi-final, while the Goers are making their first finals appearance since 2011 and only their second since 2001.
There’s also the significant head-to-head advantage the Suns hold over the Goers, with Bendigo having beaten Strathdale-Maristians only once since 2002-03.
The Goers have been the major surprise packets this summer, not only making a return to the finals, but also winning the one-day shield.
They showed the importance of banking early points when they won their first four games, giving them the platform to build from as they sat in the top four all season, despite losing two games outright – one of which was to the Suns.
Their surge has been led by Cricketer of the Year favourite Kyle Humphrys, who is both their leading run-scorer (634) and wicket-taker (28), was the clear standout in the Addy’s MVP rankings with 1234 points and holds one of the major keys to the Goers’ chances of keeping alive their chances of winning their first flag since 1994.
Off-spinner Humphrys took nine of his 28 wickets against the Suns in round five.
Leg-spinner Tom Hart (22 wickets) and Alex Pearson (21) have also played leading roles with the ball and the duo, along with Humphrys, Matt Gray, Jotham Higgs and co will need to be at the top of their game as a bowling unit against the deep Suns’ batting line-up.
The strength of the Suns’ batting is shown in the fact they have belted four of the top 10 scores of the season and have five players – captain Ben DeAraugo (410), James Vlaeminck (399), Sam Johnston (355), Linton Jacobs (319) and Jack Neylon (313) – who have made more than 300 runs.
They also boast the competition’s leading wicket-taker in Cameron Taylor (33), who is also well and truly due with the bat given his output of 205 runs is well below par for his lofty standards.
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LAST TIME:
Round 5 – Strathdale 7-177 (J. Neylon 71, K. Humphrys 6-55) & 5-127 (J. Neylon 36, K. Humphrys 3-64) d Bendigo 76 (A. Pearson 22, C. Taylor 4-20) & 6-226 (M. Ryan 54*, R. Haythorpe 3-28) outright .
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THE TEAMS:
Strathdale-Maristians (9-2-2) – Ben DeAraugo © (560 MVP points), Cameron Taylor (875), Ryan Haythorpe (280), Linton Jacobs (509), Jack Neylon (503), Dylan Bailie (283), Jacob DeAraugo (494), Sam Johnston (885), Nick Baker (81), Daniel Clohesy (178), James Vlaeminck (714), Mitch Blackman (183).
Bendigo (7-4-2) – Shane Koop © (667 MVP points), Kyle Humphrys (1234), Mitchell Bench (178), William Collicoat (184), Ryan Trickey (53), Mark Ryan (328), Matthew Gray (272), Jotham Higgs (60), Craig Pearce (388), Alex Pearson (548), Tom Hart (710), Jack Belsar (54).
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SELECTIONS:
Luke West – Strathdale-Maristians.
Adam Bourke – Strathdale-Maristians.
SANDHURST v GOLDEN SQUARE
at Weeroona Oval
SANDHURST reaching its first grand final since 1979 or Golden Square earning the right to play for the premiership in its centenary season.
That’s what’s at stake when the Dragons host Square in their semi-final at Weeroona Oval.
When the Dragons take to the field they will be doing so in a semi-final for only the second time since 1987.
The Dragons ended the season second on the ladder, with their only defeat a 14-run loss to White Hills in round three.
Their surge up the ladder this season has been strongly aided by three recruits in Nayana Palamanadidge (755), Ash Gray (371) and Sam de Silva (343), who are the team’s top three leading run-scorers.
Sri Lankan Palamandidge also doubles as the competition’s No.1 run-scorer, with his season featuring three centuries.
Coach Taylor Beard (27) and captain Craig Howard (25) have combined for 52 wickets, with Howard one of four spinners – along with Sam Sperling, Todd Murphy and de Silva – that the Dragons will be unable to unleash on Square.
The Dragons will need no reminding of the damage Golden Square captain Ben Gunn is capable of.
In his past three innings against the Dragons, which includes two playing for Bendigo United, Gunn has made three centuries – 107 n.o. earlier this season, plus 133 and 110 last season.
Zane Keighran (108) also made a ton against the Dragons in their drawn game in round six, while it’s with the ball where Golden Square – which has also lost just one game – has been in hot form recently.
Square has dismissed White Hills for 64 and Bendigo for 58 in first innings in its past two games, but this shapes as a much tougher challenge against what is the Addy’s No.1 ranked batting line-up in the Dragons.
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LAST TIME:
Round 6 – Golden Square 4-249 (B. Gunn 108, N. Gladman 3-37) dr Sandhurst 2-138 (N. Palamandadidge 70*, T. Wood 1-0).
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THE TEAMS:
Sandhurst (9-1-3) – Craig Howard © (803 MVP points), Sam Sperling (413), Shane Robinson (246), Ash Gray (486), Taylor Beard (901), Will Keck (411), Darby Semmens (240), Todd Murphy (603), Nick Gladman (259), Nayana Palamandadige (925), Sam de Silva (458), Jack Ryan (0).
Golden Square (8-1-3-1) – Ben Gunn © (438 MVP points), Tim Wood (206), Scott Johnson (453), Darren Clutton (386), Liam Smith (615), Grant Connelly (317), Kyle Chant (383), Jamie Bysouth (377), Scott Trollope (669), Zane Keighran (488), Saheed Akolade (364).
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SELECTIONS:
Luke West – Sandhurst.
Adam Bourke – Sandhurst.