Bundoora United got an important win in the race of finals in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Barclay Shield.
With not much separating the pack, every win in the run home is important.
The Bulldogs were able to beat Epping for a second straight round on Saturday, this time in a two-dayer.
Bulldogs captain Joel Thompson said they didn’t mind the new format that was trailed this season when sides face each other back-to-back.
“We were in a good position before Christmas,” he said. “They wanted to trial something different playing the same side either side of Christmas,
“It’s normally one of those things you play a side and then wait half a season to play them again.
“We thought playing them again so soon was a good thing so we could implement some things straight away.”
The Pingers made 9-161 on day one of the match.
Thompson said while the total wasn’t a massive one, with a slow out field it wasn’t an easy ground to make runs on.
The Bulldogs plans were also thrown into disarray with one of their players taken to hospital on the morning of the match needing stitches in his foot.
Once the game got underway the Bulldogs had enough contributors to mark the runs with more than 12 overs remaining, finishing 6-163.
Scott Barnett top scored with 74 not out, while Thilina Hereath came in at number eight and made an unbeaten 26.
“Thilina put us in a really strong position,” he said. “He can bat all across the line up.
“He opened for us in the grand final last year and he’s in a new different role which he has adjusted to.”
After 10 rounds, the Bulldogs sit in sixth position, only a game behind second.
Thompson said it was proving to be a really close season. He said they want to be challenging come the end of the season.
“I think as a competition, anything can happen,” he said. “The win helps set us up and put us in a good position.”
The Bulldogs will face Heidelberg in round 11 on Sunday in a standalone Australia Day game.
The side has played on Australia Day for a number of years and with going up a division have now joined forces with Heidelberg to continue the tradition.
Thompson said they were hoping to have a big crowd come down and watch them.
“It’s a special occasion,” he said. “It’s the only game on the day and hopefully we’ll have a big crowd down there to come and watch.”
In other Barclay Shield matches, Bundoora held its spot in the top four with victory against Macleod.
Chasing 141, the Bulls finished 9-174. Harkaran Gujral top scored with 69 at the top of the order.
The Bulls sit in fourth spot, equal on points with second.
Heidelberg, North Eltham Wanderers and Research Eltham Collegians were the other winners.
