The Red Caps yesterday claimed the spot with a resounding 53-run victory against Shepparton-based club Central Park-St Bernard’s in the Kookaburra Statewide Twenty20 Cup country final.

They wait to learn their metropolitan rival for the showdown on February 26.

Red Caps batsman Heath Pyke said it was special to have played at the MCG once and the club looked forward to a return.

Pyke said bowling and strong fielding – led by Cole Roscholler on fire in the field – was pivotal to the victory yesterday in Bendigo.

The Red Caps won the toss and elected to bat first at Eaglehawk, setting a far-from-comfortable target at 7-144.

Gavin Webb top-scored on 38 runs but at 7-96 and about five overs to play, the Red Caps were uneasy.

Red Caps skipper David Ellis (27 runs) and Tom Reece (19) worked hard to bolster the tally and saw out a strong finish.

Pyke said it was always going to be a tough score to defend but the Red Caps bowlers worked hard to win control.

Tristan Dixon was in sharp form with 5-22 to spearhead the attack while Tim Miller nabbed 3-24 to keep pressure on their rivals.

Wendouree was crowned Victoria’s best club in the shortest format of the game with an 11-run victory over Buckley Ridges at the MCG in 2010 – a feat they are hungry to repeat.

The Red Caps have progressed to the MCG this summer as last season’s Central Highlands champion and country semi-finals winner in Hamilton last December in the two-year circuit.

They have another chance to play through to the MCG next summer after going back-to-back as Central Highlands’ champion last month.

Brown Hill represented the Central Highlands before bowing out in the country semi-final stage last season.

Meanwhile, the Ballarat Cricket Association representative team was in strong form with the bat yesterday.The BCA posted 6-243 in 50 overs against Bendigo before rain washed out play five overs into the Bendigo innings at Wendouree.

North Ballarat captain Bobby Hind made 118 runs off 155 balls with four sixes and nine fours.

Coronet City’s Allan Steenholdt was also in strong form with the bat, chalking up 65 runs (8 fours) off 85 balls in a 146-run stand with Hind by the second wicket.

The match headlined a Ballarat-Bendigo challenge across all age divisions. More details in The Courier tomorrow.