Tara Murray
Bundoora United knows the job is only half done after taking control of the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Money Shield grand final on Saturday.
Plenty went into the two-day match as favourties after being the best team all season, but it was the Bulldogs who are in the better position after day one.
Bulldogs skipper Joel Thompson said they would have taken where the game is at before play started.
“We’re definitely happy,” he said. “We obviously got a good start and we can’t bat for next week.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good position and hopefully we can finish it off.”
Plenty decided to bat on its home pitch after winning the toss.
Thompson said while batting first in a final is always nice to get runs on the board, he said they were happy either way, knowing they’re a good chasing side.
The Bulldogs were able to break through early and made it hard for Plenty to put partnerships together.
While Plenty’s lower order showed some resistance late in the day, the Bulldogs were able to bowl Plenty out for 143 in the second last over of the day.
“We would not have thought that,” Thompson said of being able to restrict them to that score.
“They have been the benchmark all season.”
After a man of the match performance in the semi final, Scott Barnett backed it up again in the grand final.
He took 6-47 off a massive 39.2 overs, having bowled unchanged all day.
Thompson said that is just what Barnett does.
“He does it in the big games,” he said. “I throw him the ball and then he will tell me when he’s done and throw it back to me.
“He does it not just for us, but for the club as well.”
The Bulldogs then had to face one over at the end of the day.
They will resume at 0-1.
Thompson said while it’s difficult facing just one over late, it also showed the mindset of the group.
“You always want to bowl a side out,” he said. “It is in the back of your mind though you want to have an over to bat.
“The openers wanted the opportunity to get out there. There was a good positive mindset.”
The Bulldogs will be eagerly waiting for Saturday afternoon when they are back on the pitch with 143 needed for premiership glory.
Thompson said they would try and stick to what has been working.
“We’ll enjoy the week,” he said. “We’ll train as normal.
“We’ve made a big conscious effort to enjoy the week. They don’t come around very often.
“So enjoy it and do it as a team.
“There’s another week for us to do the right things.”
In the Barclay Shield decider, Heidelberg made 8-201 against Macleod.
