The BDCA's preparation for Melbourne Country Week hit a speed bump when it suffered a six-wicket loss to Ballarat in Sunday's KenMac Shield clash at the QEO.
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The BDCA was left to lament a disappointing batting performance as arch-rival Ballarat proved too strong.
"It was a challenging day, but I'm still really proud of the boys for the way they connected to the game,'' BDCA coach Shane Koop said.
"We tried hard throughout. We made a bright start, but lost some wickets through the middle-order and finished 50 runs short."
After being sent into bat, the BDCA made a strong start on the back of some aggressive batting from openers Sam Johnston and Ben Birkhead.
Birkhead raced to 20 off 20 balls before being caught with the score on 39.
Johnston and Kyle Humphrys put the BDCA in control at 1-78 after 17 overs.
However, the loss of Humphrys for 10 turned the game as the BDCA lost 3-16, including Jack Neylon (3) and a needless run out of Johnston (54 off 68 balls).
Ballarat spinners Harry Killoran (2-32), Sam Burgess (1-22) and Steve Nicholson (2-28) put the clamps on the BDCA middle-order.
Grant Waldron (26 off 51), Kayle Thompson (23 off 58) and Liam Smith (20 not out off 17) gave the BDCA a total of 9-185 off 50 overs.
The BDCA put Ballarat under pressure at 2-20 and 4-79, but Nathan Yates and Heath Pyke dug in to produce a match-winning partnership.
The star duo didn't give a chance as they added an unbroken 110 for the fifth wicket.
Yates made a sublime 100 not out off 96 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes, while Pyke finished 54 not out, including six fours and two sixes.
Johnston (2-29) was clearly the BDCA's best player, while Savith Priyan (2-40) claimed the other two wickets.
"There's no alarm bells, Ballarat played really well and they're a proud association,'' Koop said.
"There were lots of learnings from the day and the boys are still really positive. In some respects we like that were challenged in our final game before Melbourne Country Week because that's really good preparation."
Ryan Hartley, Rhys Irwin, Scott Trollope, Dylan Klemm didn't play on Sunday and will return for Melbourne Country Week in place of Daniel Clohesy, Kayle Thompson and Bailey Goodwin.
Melbourne Country Week starts on Monday, February 17.
The BDCA plays Traralgon at Melbourne University on day one, Mornington-Peninsula at Kew on day two and Ferntree Gully at Balwyn on day three.
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