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BENDIGO United's Tom Batters grasped his opportunity to impress in Sunday's Victorian Country Cricket League All-Stars match at the QEO.
An inclusion into the East All-Stars team to take on the West All-Stars in the 50-over-per-side match, Batters was the game's most dominant bowler, claiming a five-wicket haul.
Batters was one of six Bendigo District Cricket Association players selected for the first of two VCCL All-Star games.
Also playing for the East team were the Strathdale-Maristians trio of Grant Waldron, Cameron Taylor and Jack Neylon, as well as White Hills' Rhys Irwin.
Sandhurst captain Joel Murphy earned a call-up into the West team, while Kangaroo Flat's Dylan Klemm (back) was an omission.
The East team featuring the strong home town contingent prevailed by six wickets, with Batters instrumental in the victory.
Bowling second change, Batters bagged 5-27 off 8.4 overs as the West compiled 232 after winning the toss and batting.
Three of Batters' wickets were catches, while one was lbw and one was bowled.
Irwin was the only East bowler to complete his quota of 10 overs and finished with 1-41, while he also ran out Murphy for 13.
Taylor finished with 0-40 off seven overs, while Cole Roscholler showed his class with a run-a-ball 92 that featured eight fours and three sixes.
In reply the East All-Stars took 40.1 overs to answer with 4-233, with the successful run chase led by keeper-batsman Jordan Gilmore (72 retired) and Nathan Freitag (72).
Neylon (5 n.o.) and Waldron (0 n.o.) were both at the crease when the East All-Stars claimed victory.
The second of the matches will be played at Melbourne's Junction Oval on Sunday, February 7.
The VCCL has orchestrated the matches as a replacement for the cancelled Australian Country Cricket Championships and Melbourne Country Week carnival.
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