THE 400-run mark in the Bendigo District Cricket Association - it's a barrier that is rarely broken these days.

But it was last Saturday when Strathdale-Maristians crunched 9-408 against Bendigo United in a Bell Oval run-feast.

The Suns' batting blitz was just the third time this decade the 400-run mark has been cracked - and twice it has come at the expense of Bendigo United.

The Redbacks also conceded 400-plus in round four of the 2017-18 season when they were on the end of a Jeremy Brown (215) double century for Eaglehawk (404).

The only other score in excess of 400 this decade came in round 12 of 2012-13 when Huntly-North Epsom piled on 4-408 against Sandhurst at Weeroona Oval: an innings that featured a 322-run opening partnership between Ryan Grundy (176) and Linc McRae (145).

While 400 is a rarity these days, it happened with far more regularity during the mostly dry 2000s decade.

Of the 17 times since 2000 that a BDCA first XI team has made more than 400, 14 of them were scored between 2000 and 2010.

So, hot on the heels of the Suns' run-spree last Saturday, what have been the top batting onslaughts by teams over the past 20 years?

Here's the top 10:

v Sandhurst

Round 9, 2002-03

At Weeroona Oval

Not only the highest score of the past 20 years, but the Suns' 6-533 against Sandhurst made across January 18-25 of 2003 also doubles as the BDCA's record total.

Having bowled the Dragons out for 206, the Suns raced to 1-89 off 18 overs at stumps on day one.

Showing no mercy the Suns then added a further 444 runs on day two to set the BDCA's new benchmark.

The record-setting stint at the crease that lasted 101 overs featured 162 from No.3 Sean McCann, plus five other batsmen who passed 50 - Jason Hewitt (80), Andrew Price (73), Ben Smith (59 n.o.), Kieren Prowse (55n.o.) and Hayden Polglase (50).

Of the eight Suns who batted, only two were dismissed for less than 50 - captain Geoff Findlay (24) and Andrew Hewitt (15).

Skipper Findlay described the Suns' record at Weeroona Oval as "a result of a lightning-fast outfield, some intelligent batting and an exhausted Dragons' attack."

"There's no doubt the conditions were tailor-made for a big total," Findlay said.

"The outfield was even quicker than last week, if that was possible, and while it's not easy to bat when it's that hot, it's harder to bowl."

The Suns of 2002-03 are one of only three teams to have made more than 500 in a BDCA first XI game.

The Suns eclipsed the previous record score of 8-519 made by Golden Square in the 1946-47 grand final against Bendigo.

And according to BDCA historian Darren Rodda, Eaglehawk also posted 5-511 against California Gully at Canterbury Park in 1993-94 - a game that featured a knock of 165 from Andrew Price.

v Bendigo

Round 4, 2006-07

At QEO

To say Sandhurst was stiff back in round four of 2006-07 is an understatement.

The Dragons cracked 5-493 against Bendigo at the QEO on day one, but never got the chance to defend their monster tally after the following week was abandoned due to smoke.

Bendigo was engulfed by thick smoke on day two - December 11, 2006 - from bushfires burning in Victoria, prompting league officials to call the day's play off because of health concerns.

On day one though the Dragons, led by Nick Scullie and Mark Keck, made the most of the batsmen-friendly drought conditions.

Scullie (225 n.o.) and Keck (160) put on 304 for the first wicket, setting a new partnership record for the Dragons.

Then aged 21, Scullie's unbeaten 225 also set a new Sandhurst record score, surpassing Jim Ryan's 202 against Harcourt in 1934.

"Nick did a fantastic job batting the whole day, which is a fantastic effort in itself and 225 is a great score," Keck said the following day.

"The QEO wicket is really flat and the ground has got quicker over the past few weeks, so there's not a lot in it for the bowlers, but Bendigo toiled hard."

Having been padded up since 1pm, Dragons' No.3 Anthony West went out to bat at 4.41pm, but after the long wait his stint at the crease was brief - dismissed by Paul Monro (2-172) for a duck.

Remarkably, Scullie backed up his 225 not out against Bendigo by also making an unbeaten 157 against White Hills the following round. Good form indeed.

v Huntly-North Bendigo

Round 2, 2006-07

At Atkins Street

Proving just what a nightmare the 2006-07 season was for bowlers and fielders with the drought, a month before Sandhurst's score of 5-493 Eaglehawk smashed 6-489.

The Hawks put the Huntly-North Bendigo bowlers to the sword in a performance that was dubbed by the Addy as the "Matt Attack".

Hawks' openers Matt Ford and Matt Fitt produced what is believed to be the greatest partnership in BDCA history by putting on 387 for the first wicket at Atkins Street.

Ford made 204 - one short of Denis Bice's then club record 205 for Eaglehawk - while Fitt scored 185.

"Fitty and I just kept talking to each other and made sure we were both concentrating," Ford said.

"We just kept getting ourselves milestones of 50, 100 and 150 and worked from there."

The Power didn't take their first wicket until just before 5pm when Ford was bowled by Dale Young (1-91).

Eaglehawk took 20 wickets the following week, bowling the Power out for 105 and 126 to win outright.

v White Hills

Round 10, 2005-06

At Scott Street

A mammoth win by 334 runs for the Roos, who after bowling the Demons out for 131 answered with 8-465.

Not that a score of 450-plus looked on the cards when, after resuming day two at 1-131, the Roos lost four quick wickets to be 5-159.

Yet over the remainder of the day Kangaroo Flat blasted a further 3-306 led by 144 from Adam Burns.

Oh, Burns had also taken 6-15 off 12 overs the previous week to dominate the Demons with the ball as well.

Burns' innings included putting on 123 for the seventh wicket with Mick Smith (42) and 112 for the eighth with Shane Harling (46 n.o.).

v Huntly-North Bendigo

Round 12, 2003-04

At Dower Park

The Roos tuned up for what would be a finals series in 2003-04 that yielded the flag with a thumping last-round win over Huntly-North Bendigo at home.

Opener Tony Taig made a century (103), which was among a run of five consecutive scores of 128, 79 n.o., 103, 66 and 101 n.o. from round 10 to the grand final during a memorable summer in which he broke the BDCA record for the most runs in a season with 962.

The Roos' tally of 8-462 against the Power also featured half-centuries to Brad Orton (91), Liam Jones (60 n.o.) Steve Newlan (53) and Shane Harling (51).

v White Hills

Round 12, 2005-06

At Scott Street

An innings best remembered for three Suns' players making centuries.

Linton Jacobs (116), Ben Irwin (105 n.o.) and Dom Taylor (100) all cracked tons after what had been a shaky start by the Suns.

Batting first, the Suns had been 2-17 early, before Jacobs and Taylor came to the rescue with a 230-run partnership for the third wicket.

The Demons later had the Suns 7-287, but just like against Kangaroo Flat two rounds earlier they couldn't finish off the innings.

Instead, Irwin and Tyson Findlay (50 n.o.) added an unbroken 158 before the Suns declared at 7-445, but the Demons at 7-150 held on for a rain-affected draw.

v Huntly-North Bendigo

Round 2, 2008-09

At Bell Oval

Another century for the Suns' Linton Jacobs - this time a double.

Jacobs' 209 set a new Strathdale-Maristians' club record during the Suns' 6-435 in reply to the Power's 189.

Opener Jacobs endured an anxious tea break when he was on 99, while he was part of three century stands during his innings - 140 for the first wicket with Sean McCann (65), 103 for the second with Dom Taylor (28) and 147 for the third with first-gamer Brad Rowe (81).

Jacobs surpassed the previous Suns' record score of 200 that had been set by Barry Tippett in 1986-87.

v Bendigo

Round 1, 2006-07

At Scott Street

A sign of things to come in the 2006-07 drought season given this round one match between the Demons and Goers remarkably featured two teams making over 400.

Batting first the Demons' innings was headlined by a brilliant 178 from opener Darren Gregory in his return to White Hills after six years.

Gregory was dropped early on 15 and made the Goers' pay, going on to set a new White Hills' record score, with his 178 coming off just 189 balls.

Gregory put on 129 with fellow opener Sam McRae (37) and 100 for the second wicket with Josh Collinson (56) before he was dismissed by Mark Ryan (4-107) with the score on 316.

v White Hills

Round 1, 2006-07

At Scott Street

Part 2 of the memorable Demons-Goers clash when White Hills' massive 7-430 only just proved enough.

The Goers were gallant in their run-chase, answering with 8-422, which was spearheaded by a 228-run opening partnership between Glenn Franzi (165) and Tony Ryan (110).

"We got off to a good start, a few blokes got going and we gave it a shake, but we couldn't quite get there in the end," said Bendigo coach Mark Ryan, who made three.

The Goers had been well on track to chase down their improbable target when they were 2-341 at one stage, but then lost 4-13 to fall to 6-354.

v White Hills

Round 6, 2002-03

At Bell Oval

Another 400-plus total scored by the Suns; and another made against White Hills.

And it's another innings where the Demons let their opposition get away.

Defending 170 the Demons had the Suns 4-139, yet that turned into 9-418.

Geoff Findlay proved the biggest thorn in the side of the Demons, with the Suns' opener blasting 166.

The Suns had started day two at 2-65 and Findlay having already made 52 of those.

Kieren Prowse (79) and Linton Jacobs (52 n.o.) also helped tick the runs over for the Suns, who since 2000 are the owners of four of the BDCA's top 10 team totals.

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