A standout performance from marquee player Chathura Damith propelled West Bendigo into the EVCA Twenty20 semi-finals.
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The Strathfieldsaye all-rounder took 3-10 with the ball and blasted 61 off 31 balls with the bat in West Bendigo's crushing seven-wicket win over California Gully.
With all pool two teams fixtured to have the bye in the final round, Tuesday night's victory secured the Redbacks second place and a semi-final berth.
California Gully won the toss and batted, but aside from opener Justin Bice (38) the Cobras struggled to find form against a disciplined West Bendigo attack.
Damith led the way with 3-10 off his four overs, while Matt Flloyd (2-17), Matt Gallagher (2-19) and Daniel Whiting (2-25) chipped in with key wickets to dismiss the visitors for 99.
West Bendigo stumped early in its run chase to be 2-21, but Damith showed why he's one of the most valuable all-rounders in the BDCA with a powerful hitting display.
The right-hander smashed five sixes and five fours to guide West Bendigo home off just 13.1 overs.
Brad Smith (2-15) was the pick of the Cobras' bowlers.
In the other pool two match, Spring Gully rounded out a perfect preliminary round campaign by defeating Axe Creek by 57 runs.
Spring Gully posted 5-139 off its 20 overs, with Isaac Willits top-scoring with 52 not out off 44 balls, while Jesse Marciano added 23 off 19 balls.
The Crows went after Axe Creek marquee player Kyle Humphrys. The off-spinner had figures of 1-50 off his four overs.
Once Humphrys fell for 17 with the bat, the Axe Creek chase fell away.
The Crows restricted the visitors to 8-82 off 20 overs thanks to good bowling from Justin Webb (2-8), Jake Donegan (2-9) and Alex Daniels (2-10).
With Emu Creek forfeiting its T20 games, just one game was played in pool one and it was a semi-final-shaping result.
Sedgwick upstaged ladder-leader United in a high-scoring shootout to keep its semi-final hopes alive.
Chasing 174 for victory, the Rams won with seven wickets and four balls to spare thanks largely to a blistering 84-run stand for the third wicket between Jordan Ilsley and Steven Stroobants.
Ilsley made 61 not out off 45 balls, including eight fours and one six, while Stroobants hit two sixes and four fours in his brisk 41 off 24 balls.
Marquee player Ryan Grundy belted six fours in his 28 runs at the top of the order.
The Tigers secured Strathdale-Maristians star Jack Neylon as their marquee player.
Neylon opened the batting, hit a four and a six and then fell for 11.
Harry Whittle smashed 62 off just 30 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, while Tom Calvert made 41 off 27 balls and the duo combined to add 75 for the fifth wicket.
Kyal Rasmussen (2-30) and Jordan Ilsley (2-31) bowled well for the Rams.
Sedgwick is in the box seat to finish second in the group behind United.
The Rams will collect the points from Emu Creek in the final round.
Third-placed Marong would need to score a big victory over fourth-placed Mandurang in the final round to have any chance of reeling in Sedgwick.
The final round matches will be played on Tuesday, February 1, with the semi-finals scheduled for February 8 and grand final for February 15.
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