BENDIGO has earned the chance to defend its Bendigo District Cricket Association Twenty20 title after winning its way into next week’s grand final.
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![BIG HIT: Huntly-North Epsom's Sheenan De Silva hits a pull shot during Tuesday night's Twenty20 defeat to Bendigo United at Harry Trott Oval. Picture: NONI HYETT BIG HIT: Huntly-North Epsom's Sheenan De Silva hits a pull shot during Tuesday night's Twenty20 defeat to Bendigo United at Harry Trott Oval. Picture: NONI HYETT](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/G3M3FqVFYHjdnjXX9zgHHX/02f034d9-b5ac-4269-9128-9b61fd2ee7d0.jpg/r800_0_2393_1944_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Goers will take on Strathdale-Maristians in next Wednesday night’s grand final at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Bendigo beat White Hills in Tuesday night’s final round of the preliminary matches, and in doing so knocked the Demons out of top spot in Pool A.
White Hills had started the match one game, plus 0.99 net run-rate, ahead of Bendigo.
But after restricting the Demons to 6-126 and then chasing their target down in 14.4 overs, Bendigo not only joined White Hills on 18 points, but also ended the preliminary rounds with a superior net run-rate of +1.40 to +1.13.
After winning the toss and batting first at Provincial Home Loans Oval, opener Ryan Grundy batted through the innings in White Hills’ score of 6-126.
Grundy passed 50 for the second time in the tournament in making an unbeaten 66 off 49 (seven fours, one six).
He put on 61 for the fourth wicket with Tyler Oliver (25 off 31) after the Demons had been 3-29.
Among those first three wickets to fall was the in-form Gavin Bowles (0), who was bowled first ball by Ryan Trickey.
Bowles was one of three wickets for Trickey, who claimed 3-17 off four overs, including another dangerman in Brayden Stepien (9 off 23).
In reply, the Goers’ successful run-chase of 8-127 in 14.4 overs was enough to propel them into the final.
Star opener James Seymour made his second half-century of the competition with an entertaining 68 off 34 that featured 50 runs in fours and sixes – eight boundaries and three sixes.
The next best scorers for the Goers were Kyle Chant and Julian Lake, who both made 14.
Myles Wade (3-30) and Mitch Winter-Irving (3-31), back from Victoria Country duties, both took three wickets apiece for the Demons in their only loss of the competition.
• Strathdale-Maristians ended the preliminary rounds undefeated following a two-wicket win over Golden Square at MyJet Oval.
Square compiled 8-102 batting first, with only Scott Woodman (25 off 20, two sixes), Grant Connelly (22 off 25) and Luke Baird (13 off 14) scoring in double figures.
Strathdale’s Dylan Bailie produced one of the best bowling performances of the competition with his 3-8 off four overs.
The Suns were under pressure in their chase at 8-80, but Sam Johnston (26 n.o off 13, three fours, one six) and Daniel Clohesy (8 n.o.) lifted the side over the line with nine balls to spare.
Scott Trollope continued his fine form with the ball for Square in taking 3-21 off four overs, while Woodman (2-24) and captain Liam Smith (2-12) picked up two wickets each.
• Eaglehawk cruised to an eight-wicket win over Strathfieldsaye at Flight Centre Park.
With Shaun Knott (3-22) and skipper Cory Jacobs (3-10) taking three wickets each for the Hawks, the Jets were held to 8-91.
Among Knott’s wickets was that of the competition’s leading run-scorer Pat Felmingham for a duck.
With Knott dominating early, the Jets were immediately on the backfoot at 4-11, before Zoltan Smyth (23 n.o.) later top-scored.
Eaglehawk took 16.4 overs to chase down its target, making 2-92 led by an unbeaten 52 off 52 (four fours) from Andrew Smith.
• At Harry Trott Oval, Bendigo United won its second game in a row with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Huntly-North Epsom.
The Power scored 8-125 batting first. No details were supplied.
Marcus Smalley was the pick of the Redbacks’ bowlers in taking 2-17 off four overs, while Ben Gunn (1-1) bowled a tight two overs, conceding just one run.
Bendigo United’s run-chase went down to the wire, with the Redbacks winning with one ball to spare in making 8-127 to consign the Power to a winless tournament.
The leading run-scorer for the Redbacks was Mark Di Fede with 25, while captain Nick Crawford made 23 before retiring hurt.
No Power bowling details were supplied.