The Bendigo District Cricket Association representative squad suffered a two-wicket loss to Gisborne in Sunday's Kenmac Shield clash at North Bendigo.
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On a wicket that proved hard to bat on, 18 wickets fell for 191 runs and only five batsmen reached double figures.
After winning the toss and batting, Bendigo looked like it was in for a humiliating loss when it slumped to 7-13.
The top seven batsmen all fell for three runs or less - Joel Murphy (1), Sam Johnston (1), Jake Klemm (3), Andrew Chalkley (3), Anthony West (0), Jack Neylon (1) and Ryan Hartley (1).
Skipper Ben DeAraugo and veteran all-rounder Adam Burns dug in and tried to steer Bendigo of trouble.
The experienced duo added 69 for the eighth wicket before Burns fell for 22 off 78 balls.
DeAraugo fell one run short of what would have been a well-deserved half-century as Bendigo finished all out for 95.
Bendigo's bowlers gave the home side a sniff of victory when Gisborne fell to 6-41.
However, a 37-run stand between Ryan Billinghurst (31) and Matthew Milne (11) steered Gisborne out of trouble.
Bendigo captured two late wickets to leave Gisborne 8-82, but a couple of boundaries eased the pressure for the visitors and they snuck over the line by two wickets.
Pacemen Sam Johnston (3-24) and Dylan Klemm (3-23) did the damage with the ball for Bendigo.
Four members of the BDCA squad to play at next month's Melbourne Country Week carnival - Sandhurst's Ash Gray, Eaglehawk's Russell Stockdale and White Hills duo Mitch Winter-Irving and Rhys Irwin - missed the game against Gisborne.
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