STRATHDALE-Maristians has won a fourth-consecutive Bendigo District Cricket Association under-18 premiership after a gripping tie against Bendigo at the weekend.
The game finished level 162 runs apiece on Sunday, but the under-18 juggernaut Suns were declared the premiers after they finished third on the ladder, while the Goers were fourth.
Had the Suns lost the game they would have been kicking themselves given they were bowled out on Saturday with 22 deliveries still left unused at Kangaroo Flat.
In the thrilling finale to the game, Bendigo scored eight runs off the final four deliveries of the match bowled by medium-pacer Nathan Walker (1-28) to finish 7-162.
Bendigo's Lachlan Archibald (7 n.o.) scored seven off the first three deliveries remaining, leaving Shubham Rana on strike for the last ball with two needed for the Goers to win and one to tie.
Rana (0 n.o.) didn't get bat on ball to a delivery outside off stump, but Archibald scampered through for a single to the keeper's end.
The grand final featured a pair of half-centuries. Opener Matthew Wilkinson made 53 for the Suns, who lost their last six wickets for just 22 runs, while Goers' skipper Kayle Thompson continued his fine form with 67.
* Bendigo United recorded a five-wicket win over Golden Square in the third XI grand final at Bell Oval.
Chasing Square's 145, the Redbacks answered with 5-150, winning with 22 balls to spare to capture their first third XI flag since 2013-14.
Riley Hocking (39) top-scored for Golden Square after it won the toss and batted, while opener Mick Delaney (30) was the best of an even Redbacks' line-up that had six players score at least 18.
* Much to the frustration of Golden Square and Bendigo, their second XI grand final has been forced into next Saturday's reserve day.
Day one play was abandoned on Saturday after the Harry Trott Oval wicket was left uncovered during the rain that fell on Friday.
Golden Square will resume next weekend at 0-3 in reply to Bendigo's 174, which was spearheaded by all-rounder Pavan Bade's 62 after he came in with the Goers at a dicey 5-68.
* In the fourth XI Strathdale-Maristians (7-114) defeated Eaglehawk (113).
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