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READ MORE - BDCA, EVCA Addy MVP rankings top 25 performers
STRATHDALE-MARISTIANS v KANGAROO FLAT
12.30pm Saturday at Bell Oval.
The BDCA's two standout teams of the first six rounds go head-to-head in a keenly-anticipated match-up.
Both teams would have gone into the match undefeated had it not been for Kangaroo Flat being upset by Strathfieldsaye last week.
Instead, the two sides have a combined 11-1 record, with the reigning premier Suns 6-0 and the Roos 5-1.
The contest pits what is the No.1 ranked batting side (Suns) against the No.1 bowling unit (Roos).
Such is the star power in the Suns' batting line-up, they've already had three century-makers in the first six rounds - Grant Waldron (115 n.o. v Bendigo), James Vlaeminck (102 v Sandhurst) and Jack Neylon (129 v Eaglehawk).
The class in the Suns' batting line-up taking on the Roos attack of Brent Hamblin, Lewis Stabler, Adam Burns, Dylan Klemm and co. should make for an enthralling contest and perhaps a pre-cursor of what's to come in March.
THE TEAMS:
Strathdale-Maristians - Ben DeAraugo (c), Cameron Taylor, Grant Waldron, Linton Jacobs, Jack Neylon, Sam Johnston, Will Gilmore, Daniel Clohesy, Chris Sole, James Vlaeminck, Jacob DeAraugo.
Kangaroo Flat - Chris Barber (c), Adam Burns, Kenny Beith, Brent Hamblin, Jake Klemm, Dylan Klemm, Nathan Newlan, Daniel Barber, Josh Collinson, Ryan Harling, Lewis Stabler.
STRATHFIELDSAYE v BENDIGO UNITED
12.30pm Saturday at Tannery Lane.
Huge scalp for Strathfieldsaye last week knocking over Kangaroo Flat at Dower Park to climb into the top four.
The Jets have been so heavily reliant on all-rounder Ben Devanny with the bat in recent seasons, but in what's a positive for the side, they are in the top four without the skipper having yet fired with the willow.
Who is firing though is Mitch Cheesman, who has made unbeaten scores of 29, 30 and 48 in his past three hits and is averaging 67.5.
And in a major positive for the Jets, Cheesman is now going to stay with the club all season rather than head back to Melbourne.
Bendigo United is still chasing its first win of the season, but there were better signs for the Redbacks last week when they fell just four runs shy of knocking over Huntly-North Epsom.
But they need someone to cash in on a start with the bat. In their past four games they've only had one player (Tom Starr) make more than 30.
Last time: Strathfieldsaye 120 def Bendigo United 96.
Since 2000: Bendigo United 15; Strathfieldsaye 12.
THE TEAMS:
Strathfieldsaye - Ben Devanny (c), Pat Felmingham, Jack Stubbs, Jed Rodda, Callum McCarty, Nayana Palamandadige, Mitch Cheesman, Darcy Hunter, Zoltan Smyth, Savith Priyan, Chathura Damith.
Bendigo United - Miggy Podosky (c), Josh Thurston, Ashley Younghusband, Riley Treloar, Nicholas Williamson, Tom Batters, Billy Quirk, Ben Daley, Jake Thrum, Scott Harper, Harry Donegan.
EAGLEHAWK v BENDIGO
12.30pm Saturday at Canterbury Park.
It's going to be a recurring theme this season using the footy term "eight point" game to describe matches.
This is another one between sixth and seventh on the ladder who are separated by three points.
The Goers have lifted their output with the bat over their past two games with back-to-back scores over 200 against Golden Square and Sandhurst, with Kyle Humphrys one of the form batsmen of the competition.
Humphrys' 121 against Golden Square last week gave him 326 runs for the season at an average of 65.2, while the Goers will be hoping the returning Bailey George can pick up from where he left off a fortnight ago with scores of 69 and 45 opening the batting on the double-header weekend.
The Hawks are coming off a comprehensive hiding from Strathdale-Maristians under lights last week when they were skittled for just 90.
If they can get enough contributions with the bat they have the bowling unit capable of bouncing back.
Last time: Bendigo 260 def Eaglehawk 174.
Since 2000: Eaglehawk 14; Bendigo 8; Tied 1.
THE TEAMS:
Eaglehawk - Cory Jacobs (c), Aaron Monro, Richard Tibbett, Anthony West, Sam Williams, Nash Viney, Ben Williams, Nick Farley, Angus Chisholm, Russell Stockdale, Brendan Archbold.
Bendigo - Nathan Fitzpatrick (c), Kyle Humphrys, Shane Koop, Dylan Johnstone, William Collicoat, Jotham Higgs, Craig Pearce, Declan Slingo, Noah Begg, Xav Ryan, Bailey George.
GOLDEN SQUARE v WHITE HILLS
12.30pm Saturday at Wade Street.
Some confidence will have been restored for the Demons last week after ending a three-game losing streak with a win over Sandhurst.
Another loss for Golden Square though to Bendigo has the Bulldogs now 15 points outside the top four and desperately needing to kickstart their season.
Will be interesting to see what batting and bowling plans Golden Square employs given its coach Tony Merasco knows most of the Demons players well having previously coached White Hills in 2018-19.
Last time: White Hills 2-176 def Golden Square 7-175.
Since 2000: Golden Square 18; White Hills 9; Tied 1.
THE TEAMS:
Golden Square - Liam Smith (c), Corey Van Aken, Max Grant, Scott Trollope, Tom Campbell, Jack Keating, Riley Hocking, Mitchell Kemp, Connor Miller, Benjamin Derrick, Harrison Goode.
White Hills - Mitch Winter-Irving (c), Caleb Barras, Tyrone Muir, Tom Dunham, Linc Jacobs, Dylan Bailie, Gavin Bowles, Jayden Sheean, Rhys Irwin, Hamish Richards, Nicholas Wallace.
SANDHURST v HUNTLY-NORTH EPSOM
12.30pm Saturday at Weeroona Oval.
While there has been plenty of hype around Strathdale-Maristians and Kangaroo Flat, Huntly-North Epsom is ticking along soundly with a 4-2 record.
All-rounder Sandun Ranathunga is coming off a solid outing of 53 and 3-38 in last week's tight win over Bendigo United and is sitting at No.9 in the Addy MVP rankings as the best-performed of the Power players.
Despite their 2-4 record, the Dragons are ranked third for batting, but they need a sharp lift in the ball having taken no more than five wickets in any of their past four games.
Last time: Huntly-North Epsom 2-163 def Sandhurst 8-159.
Since 2000: Sandhurst 16; Huntly-North Epsom 13.
THE TEAMS:
Sandhurst - Joel Murphy (c), Jack Ryan, Ash Gray, Dylan Gibson, Ben Leed, Will Keck, Anthony McMahon, Kayde Howard, Jasper Langley, Reilley Porter, Will Gadsden.
Huntly-North Epsom - Elliott Massina (c), Adam Ward, Jarrod Harris, Ryan Grundy, Danushka Wijemanna, Brett Elvey, Malan Madusanka, Sandun Ranathunga, Supun Devinda, Thusith Alboruge, Cameron Berry.
TEAM RANKINGS:
BATTING:
1. Strathdale-Maristians
2. Kangaroo Flat
3. Sandhurst
4. Bendigo
5. White Hills
6. Strathfieldsaye
7. Huntly-North Epsom
8. Golden Square
9. Bendigo United
10. Eaglehawk
BOWLING:
1. Kangaroo Flat
2. Strathdale-Maristians
3. Huntly-North Epsom
4. Golden Square
5. Eaglehawk
6. Strathfieldsaye
7. White Hills
8. Bendigo United
9. Bendigo
10. Sandhurst
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