READ MORE - Round 11 in the Emu Valley Cricket Association

MARONG's team of footballers promise to provide stiff opposition to the Panthers' cricketers when the two clubs get together on Sunday to raise bushfire relief funds in a Twenty20 cricket match.

The T20 match between Marong's football-netball club and the cricket club will be part of a family fun day at Malone Park from 11.30am, with the game to get under way at 2pm.

While the football team would seemingly be the underdogs, they have a side stacked with talent that includes Taylor Beard, Adam Ward, Elliott Massina and Sam Sperling, who have all been part of Bendigo District Cricket Association first XI premiership teams over the past two seasons.

"The two clubs got together to look at ways of raising a bit of money... we've got some very competitive footballers who were keen to try to show up the cricketers, so that's how it has come about," Marong Football-Netball Club president Dallas Coghill said this week.

"But it's not just about the cricket; we've got together with the Maiden Gully-Marong Lions Club and the SES to run a community event, so we're hoping for a really good day."

As well as the cricket match, the day will also include live music from Matt Giri and Will Edwards, jumping castles, face painting, raffles, auctions and appearances from Captain Koala (CFA) and Paddy Platypus (SES).

Also supporting the day is the Marong Golf Club, offering nine holes of golf for $10, with money raised to also be donated.

All funds raised from the day will be donated to the Lions clubs of bushfire affected districts of Victoria.

Entry is by gold coin donation.

"The football club has put together a fairly handy side; we've got quite a few who also play cricket, so we're looking forward to it," said Beard, who coaches both Marong's football team (with Ash Weldon) and Sandhurst in the BDCA.

"It's all in the name of fun and we'll have a few things in place to make sure it's an entertaining game.

"It should be a really good community day and we're hoping to get as many along as possible to raise as much money as we can for the affected areas."

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SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE

8am - Golf course opens

11.30am - Malone Park gates open

Noon - BBQ lunch

12.30pm - Matt Giri performing

12.30-1.30pm - Backyard cricket

2pm - Twenty20 game begins

2.30pm - Titana vilonist

3.30pm - Will Edwards performing

3.30pm - Cricket break, Milo cricket

4pm - Cricket resumes

5.30pm - Raffle drawn

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CRICKET ELSEWHERE THIS WEEKEND:

NORTHERN UNITED - Saturday

Goornong (5th) v Bagshot (4th)

Calivil (6th) v Heathcote (3rd)

Elmore and Colbinabbin scheduled to play Twenty20 match last night.

UPPER LODDON - Saturday

Bridgewater (4th) v Newbridge (1st)

Kingower (3rd) v Serpentine (5th)

Boort-Yando (8th) v Inglewood (6th)

Arnold (2nd) v Wedderburn (7th)

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