The Bendigo District Cricket Association season resumes on Saturday.
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At the halfway mark of the season here's how your club shapes up.
STRATHDALE
Ladder: First, eight wins, one draw.
Net run-rate: 1.91
Runs for: 1695
Runs against: 1303
Leading runs: Grant Waldron 421, Jack Neylon 349, James Vlaeminck 237.
Leading wickets: Sam Johnston 15, Cam Taylor 14, James Vlaeminck 12.
The good: Where do you start? Waldron and Neylon's form with the bat, the all-round capabilities of Vlaeminck, the balanced bowling attack or the team's confidence and ability to win a game from any position.
The bad: You'd have to be pretty picky to pluck something bad out of a first half of the season that equated to eight wins and a draw from nine games. Maybe the only concern for the Suns is the lack of opportunities/runs for some of their middle to lower-order players.
If they could poach a rival player: How do you improve a team that appears to have every base covered? They don't have a left-arm bowler. There's no better left-armer in the BDCA than Kangaroo Flat great Adam Burns.
Summary: It's probably more likely than not that the Suns will drop a game in the home and away season, but when the whips are cracking in March, and the pressure rises, the Suns are still the best-equipped team to thrive in that environment.
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KANGAROO FLAT
Ladder: Second, seven wins, one loss, one draw.
Net run-rate: 0.58
Runs for: 1156
Runs against: 1182
Leading runs: Chris Barber 251, Josh Collinson 130, Dylan Klemm 114.
Leading wickets: Brent Hamblin 20, Adam Burns 12, Jake Klemm 10.
The good: The Roos' bowling class and depth means they're never out of the game. Opposition batting line-ups get no respite across the 45 overs. Four high-quality quicks plus the off-spin of Jake Klemm and leg-spin of skipper Chris Barber.
The bad: Batting fragility. Bowling was always going to be the Roos' one-wood, but no-one expected their batting to struggle to this degree. As a team they've made the third-lowest amount of runs for the season so far.
If they could poach a rival player: The Roos need a batsman that can be the backbone of an innings and take the pressure off their strokemakers. That's the role that Grant Waldron plays to perfection for Strathdale-Maristians.
Summary: The Roos' batting struggles have been well-documented, but yet they still sit second on the ladder. It might be a case of one big innings turning the tables for the Roos' top-order. Jake Klemm is too good a player to go through a whole season without one half-century. If he finds his best form that will strengthen Flat's premiership credentials.
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HUNTLY-NORTH EPSOM
Ladder: Third, five wins, three losses, one draw.
Net run-rate: 0.10
Runs for: 1276
Runs against: 1132
Leading runs: Adam Ward 221, Ryan Grundy 214, Danushka Wijemanna 172.
Leading wickets: Malan Madusanka 13, Sandun Ranathunga 11, Elliott Massina 10.
The good: The Power are still one of the hardest teams to score against. 1132 runs against is the second-best figure in the league. Madusanka, Ranathunga and skipper Massina have been hard to get away all season which eases the pressure on Ward and Brett Elvey.
The bad: Not so much bad, but their batting hasn't been as consistent as the Power would like. There's been a sprinkling of individual brilliance - Grundy's century against White Hills was outstanding - but there's still room for improvement.
If they could poach a rival player: The Power could do with another pace bowling option and no seamer had a better first half of the season than Kangaroo Flat's Brent Hamblin. Hamblin's lower-order batting would be an added bonus.
Summary: On pure numbers it appears as though the Power have dropped off slightly compared to the past two years, yet they're still in third place and look well-placed to make the finals again. You know what you're going to get from their bowling attack, so how far the Power can go will hinge largely on what production they get from their top-order.
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STRATHFIELDSAYE
Ladder: Fourth, four wins, three losses, two draws.
Net run-rate: 0.16
Runs for: 1241
Runs against: 1160
Leading runs: Nayana Fernando 224, Pat Felmingham 217, Mitch Cheesman 174.
Leading wickets: Savith Priyan 13, Chathura Damith 11, Darcy Hunter 9.
The good: The Sri Lankan connection. Fernando is the Jets' number one batsman, while Priyan and Damith have been superb with the ball. They've also made some handy runs down the order. When this trio fires, the Jets are mighty hard to beat.
The bad: Some more runs from the top-order would be nice. The Jets can't keep relying on some hard-hitting from Pat Felmingham to get them over the line.
If they could poach a rival player: White Hills' skipper Mitch Winter-Irving. He could open the batting with Fernando or bat at number three and add another dimension to their bowling attack with his left-arm pace.
Summary: Considering they had two washouts against lower opposition and should have beaten White Hills, the Jets could be sitting comfortably inside the top four. While their batting can be brittle, the Jets' bowling depth and variety will ensure they have a chance to win most games.
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WHITE HILLS
Ladder: Fifth, four wins, four losses, one draw.
Net run-rate: -0.19
Runs for: 1389
Runs against: 1465
Leading runs: Caleb Barras 335, Gavin Bowles 241, Mitch Winter-Irving 231.
Leading wickets: Rhys Irwin 17, Linc Jacobs 13, Mitch Winter-Irving 10.
The good: Caleb Barras. The young right-hander is enjoying his best season with the bat.
The bad: The Demons are battling a lack of depth. Batting wise there's a sameness from number five onwards and they lack someone who can accelerate the innings or change the game. They're at least one bowler short, which puts more pressure on Irwin, Winter-Irving and Jacobs.
If they could poach a rival player: The Demons could do with someone who can swing the new-ball early, bowl reliably at the death and have the hitting prowess to change the game with the bat. Sounds like Strathdale's Sam Johnston to me.
Summary: It's hard to get a gauge of where the Demons sit. Their best cricket is very good, but at the same time they scraped home against bottom side Bendigo United and should have lost to Strathfieldsaye as well. Need to see them beat at least one of the top three teams before they can be seen as a genuine finals contender.
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EAGLEHAWK
Ladder: Sixth, three wins, four losses, two draws.
Net run-rate: -0.15
Runs for: 1148
Runs against: 1136
Leading runs: Russell Stockdale 208, Anthony West 156, Angus Chisholm 140.
Leading wickets: Russell Stockdale 10, Cory Jacobs 7, Aaron Monro 7.
The good: The bowling unit has conceded the least amount of runs in the competition. The decision to move Stockdale to the top of the batting order turned his form around and gave the entire batting line-up life.
The bad: A slow start to the season could come back to haunt the Hawks. Veterans Cory Jacobs and Richard Tibbett are yet to hit peak form this summer.
If they could poach a rival player: The bowling group is solid, but the Hawks could do with another batting playmaker in their top four. Enter Strathdale star Jack Neylon.
Summary: The mid-season break came at the wrong time for the Hawks as they were starting to gather momentum with bat and ball. Of the teams outside of the top four they might be best equipped to make a charge in the second-half of the season.
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BENDIGO
Ladder: Seventh, three wins, five losses, one draw.
Net run-rate: -0.65
Runs for: 1396
Runs against: 1689
Leading runs: Kyle Humphrys 455, Bailey George 211, Nathan Fitzpatrick 191.
Leading wickets: Dylan Johnstone 11, Declan Slingo 11, Kyle Humphrys 8, Noah Begg 8.
The good: Hard to look past Kyle Humphrys after his massive first half of the season with the bat. The destructive left-hander relished the one-day format.
The bad: Luck. Fitzpatrick's injury concerns continued and he hasn't been able to return to full pace at the bowling crease.
If they could poach a rival player: Huntly-North Epsom all-rounder Adam Ward. The Goers need an experienced, quality paceman and Ward would also add some scoring punch to the middle-order.
Summary: The round nine loss to Bendigo United really hurt. It gives the Goers less margin for error in the run home, but while Humphrys is firing they could win any game they contest.
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GOLDEN SQUARE
Ladder: Eighth, two wins, six losses, one draw.
Net run-rate: -0.18
Runs for: 1411
Runs against: 1370
Leading runs: Scott Trollope 255, Liam Smith 226, Riley Hocking 182.
Leading wickets: Scott Trollope 18, Liam Smith 11, Corey Van Aken 10.
The good: Trollope and Smith remain two of the best white ball players in the competition, while the continued development of Riley Hocking, Jack Keating and Tom Campbell has been a positive.
The bad: The Dogs have been in position to win more games, but couldn't get over the line.
If they could poach a rival player: An experienced player at the top of their game to assist Smith and Trollope. Strathdale star Cam Taylor would be the ideal option. Bat in the top three and bowl nine overs of quality leg-spin.
Summary: The youthful Dogs will have up and down days. At their best they went within a whisker of defeating Strathdale. If they can close the gap between their best and worst they'll win more games in the second half of the season.
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SANDHURST
Ladder: Ninth, two wins, six losses, one draw.
Net run-rate: -0.45
Runs for: 1565
Runs against: 1797
Leading runs: Joel Murphy 398, Dylan Gibson 264, Ash Gray 178.
Leading wickets: Will Keck 9, Anthony McMahon 8, Liam Bowe 6.
The good: The skipper. In a difficult season for the Dragons, Murphy has stood out with a couple of tons.
The bad: Leaking runs. The Dragons have been too easy to score against with a league worst 1797 runs in eight games. The fact Premier cricket star Liam Bowe is the third-leading wicket-taker after playing three games speaks to the lak of depth with the ball.
If they could poach a rival player: Golden Square's Scott Trollope. A much-needed strike weapon with the ball and an extra batting option to support Murphy.
Summary: The most disappointing team in the first half of the season. On paper, the Dragons have a team that should be higher on the ladder than ninth. Probably need to win seven of their last nine games to push for finals.
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BENDIGO UNITED
Ladder: Tenth, one win, seven losses, one draw.
Net run-rate: -0.88
Runs for: 1037
Runs against: 1190
Leading runs: Riley Treloar 188, Miggy Podosky 111, Jake Thrum 111.
Leading wickets: Tom Batters 14, Jake Thrum 9, Ashley Younghusband 8.
The good: It took until the last round before the break for the Redbacks to break through for a win, but they're not the worst bottom team the league has seen. Their bowling unit, led by Tom Batters, is under-rated.
The bad: Oh, what the Redbacks would give to have Heath Behrens in his prime. The lack of batting power is why the Redbacks are at the foot of the table.
If they could poach a rival player: Bendigo's Kyle Humphrys. A prolific run scorer that can open or bat at number three and bowl productive off-spinners - music to Miggy Podosky's ears.
Summary: No finals for the Redbacks, but if they're under-estimated by the teams above them they will help shape the top four.
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Read more: BDCA teams for round 10
Read more: BDCA wins four flags at Junior Country Week
BDCA STATE OF PLAY
ROUND 10
(all first XI games start at 12.30pm)
Huntly-North Epsom v Strathdale
White Hills v Bendigo United
Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye
Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat
Golden Square v Eagehawk
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LADDERS
FIRST XI
Strathdale 51
Kangaroo Flat 45
Huntly-Nth Epsom 33
Strathfieldsaye 30
White Hills 27
Eaglehawk 24
Bendigo 21
Golden Square 15
Sandhurst 15
Bendigo United 9
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BDCA 2nd XI
Sandhurst 45
Strathfieldsaye 39
White Hills 39
Strathdale 39
Bendigo United 27
Golden Square 21
Huntly North Epsom 15
Kangaroo Flat 15
Bendigo 15
Eaglehawk 15
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BDCA 3rd XI
White Hills 48
Bendigo United 48
Strathfieldsaye 36
Kangaroo Flat 36
Sandhurst 24 0
Eaglehawk 24
Bendigo 18
Golden Square 18
Huntly North Epsom 12
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BDCA 4th XI
Strathdale 48
Bendigo 39
Kangaroo Flat 33
Strathfieldsaye 27
White Hills 27
Huntly North Epsom 24
Bendigo United 21
Eaglehawk 15
Sandhurst 6
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BDCA under-18s
Strathdale 54
Strathfieldsaye 42
Bendigo 36
Bendigo United 36
White Hills 30
Golden Square 24
Kangaroo Flat 18
Eaglehawk 18
Sandhurst 6
Maiden Gully 6
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