The BDCA made a dream start to its Melbourne Country Week campaign with a resounding 200-run win over Traralgon at Melbourne University.
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Fine batting from Ryan Hartley and Jack Neylon set up the BDCA's total of 7-294 before Adam Burns tore through the Traralgon top-order to ensure Bendigo's first Provincial game since 2017 was a winning one.
The BDCA also earned an all-important bonus point.
"It's a terrific start and I think that's credit to the preparation we had and the engagement of the group,'' BDCA coach Shane Koop said.
"It was a terrific start, but it was just that - a start. We're really keen to push forward now and make sure we focus on tomorrow.
"There's rain around tomorrow, so the fact we've won our first game and earned a bonus point is really important for us."
After winning the toss and batting, BDCA openers Hartley and Sam Johnston put Traralgon on the back foot from the start.
Johnston was given the green light to be aggressive and he produced a trademark innings of 38 off just 24 balls, including three fours and one six.
Hartley and Johnston added 59 at a run per ball before the Strathdale star was caught. Hartley then added 90 with impressive MCW rookie Ben Birkhead (33 off 55 balls).
Hartley has threatened multiple times in club cricket this summer to post triple figures.
It looked like he was going to break through for a well-deserved century when he raced to 91 off 105 balls, but he had his stumps rattled by opening bowler Jamie King (1-70).
In club and representative cricket it was Hartley's seventh half-century of the season.
His departure did little to hinder the BDCA's progress.
Neylon launched a stunning 60 off 49 balls, including four sixes and three fours, while Scott Trollope chipped in with 27 off 20 balls at the end to lift the BDCA to 7-294.
As a contest, the game was done and dusted 10 overs into Traralgon's innings.
Opening bowlers Burns and Johnston (0-12 off seven overs) gave the Traralgon top-order little peace.
They conceded just one run off the first four overs and just 11 runs off the opening six overs.
Eventually, the build up of pressure took its toll and Burns carved his way through the top-order.
In the space of his next five overs, the left-armer took the first four wickets of the innings.
When Grant Waldron produced some fine fielding to run out Zak Russell with a direct hit from wide mid-on for two, Traralgon was reeling at 5-36.
Burns bowled 10 overs straight for figures of 4-29.
Read more: BDCA player profiles for MCW
The Kangaroo Flat veteran, who is playing in his 17th MCW carnival, now has 127 career wickets at an average of 16.
"Johnston and Burns swung the ball around bowled nice and full,'' Koop said.
"Burns was absolute fantastic. He's a class player and he understands this level. He finished up with four wickets and deserved five."
Rhys Irwin (2-12) and spinner Liam Smith (2-14) joined in the party as he BDCA bowled Traralgon out for 94 in the 28th over.
Smith also took three catches. Brett Chapman (41) was the only Traralgon batsman to reach 20.
The emphatic win means the BDCA most likely only needs to win of its remaining two pool games to qualify for Thursday's semi-finals.
The BDCA plays Mornington-Peninsula at Kew on Tuesday and Ferntree Gully at Balwyn on Wednesday.
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