A brilliant century to young gun James Vlaeminck ensured Strathdale-Maristians qualified for the BDCA Twenty20 grand final.
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Vlaeminck, 18, smashed seven sixes and nine fours in his 105 to lead the Suns to 5-212 against Bendigo United at Bell Oval.
In reply, Bendigo United posted 6-139 off its 20 overs, with Jake Klemm making an unbeaten 73.
Vlaeminck became just the ninth player in BDCA history to score a century in Twenty20 cricket joining White Hills’ Brayden Stepien (136), Strathdale’s Andrew Chalkley (130 and 112), Bendigo’s Michael Hill (119), Strathfieldsaye’s Ben Gunn (117), Bendigo United’s Nick Ross (109), Eaglehawk’s Andrew Smith (104) and Bendigo United’s Tom Smyth (100).
Vlaemnck was involved in brisk partnerships of 72 with Andrew Chalkley (34) and 91 with Sam Johnston (47).
After being 1-44 at the end of the powerplay, the Suns scored 168 off their 14 overs.
Johnston hit two fours and four sixes off one over from Bendigo United marquee player Gehan Seneviratne, who finished with figures of 1-52 off three overs.
The Suns’ club record total of 5-212 was the fourth-highest in league history – 14 runs short of Bendigo’s total of 5-226 in 2011-12.
The Suns topped poll one and will play pool two winner Kangaroo Flat in the T20 grand final on January 23 at the QEO.
Eaglehawk needed to defeat Huntly-North Epsom and have the Suns tlose to the Redbacks for it to have any chance of making the final.
The Hawks lost out on both fronts.
The Power made 6-145 off their 20 overs, with Adam Ward (39 off 27 balls) and Sandun Ranathunga (38 off 31 balls) the leading scorers.
The Borough made a bright start to the run chase through James Ryan (43 off 31 balls) and Cam McGlashan (34 off 24 balls).
However, when they departed the rest of the Borough batting faltered and they finished 11 runs short at 7-134.
Ranathunga capped a fine game for the Power by taking 3-16.
In pool two, a stunning final over lifted White Hills to victory over Strathfieldsaye.
The Demons looked gone when they needed 17 off the final over to reel in the Jets’ total of 6-123.
Linc Jacobs scored a single off the first ball of Savith Priyan’s over before Tom Dunham hit a boundary off a no-ball.
When Dunham launched the free hit for six over midwicket all of a sudden the Demons required just five runs off four balls.
Dunham was dismissed the next ball for 26 off 14 balls, leaving 14-year-old Sam Lowes on strike.
The youngster pushed a single to put his cousin Jacobs back on strike and the left-hander responded by hitting the penultimate ball of the match for two runs.
Needing two off the final ball to win, Jacobs belted a four to deep midwicket and the Demons celebrated a two-wicket victory.
First-gamer Darcy Hunter (2-14) impressed with the ball for the Jets, while Jack Stubbs (26) was their top-scorer.
Sandhurst scored its first T20 win of the season when it defeated Golden Square by 41 runs at Weeroona Oval.
An unbeaten 50 off 33 balls by skipper Taylor Beard was the catalyst for the Dragons’ total of 6-142.
Opening batsman Ryan Hartley (36 off 34 balls) batted well for the Dogs, but he received little support.
Spinners Nathan Walsh (3-13) and Todd Murphy (2-18) put the clamps on the Dogs and they stuttered their way to 7-101 off 20 overs.
The results left White Hills in second place in pool two behind Kangaroo Flat, while the Dogs were the only team not to win a game.
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