With the winner set to book a spot in the grand final at the MCG next month, the metropolitan outfit rattled up 4-168.

Former Sri Lankan first-class player Susantha Pradeep blasted 66 from only 47 balls, with seven boundaries and two sixes.

Pradeep and Daniel Watson (37) set up the powerful total with an opening stand of 70.

“We seem to defend really well, so we decided to bat first and on a big ground, we capitalised early in the power play,” captain Troy Aust said.

“DJ’s (Watson) a proven hitter and I think they (he and Pradeep) moved the bodies (fielders) accordingly and got into the right positions to find the boundary.”

Wodonga openers Robbie Jackson and Andrew Weighell made a steady start, pushing to 0-40 from six overs.

But when Wes Nicholas dismissed captain Jack Craig (four) and coach Jackson (39) in the 11^th over, the contest was over.

“We just lost our way through the middle when they put the players back (after the power play),” Jackson said.

“They were a good side and in T20 cricket, you’ve got to hit the boundaries early in the over and we just couldn’t do that to put the pressure on the bowlers.”

Buckley hit 17 boundaries and three sixes, while Wodonga was only able to post eight fours and two sixes at its John Flower Oval.

The visitors have won eight of Dandenong District’s T20 competitions in just over a decade and their familiarity with the format was obvious.

“We have quite a few aggressive players that we’ve been able to stick together and we’ve been able to add to that,” Aust said.

It will now play the winner of Mount Clear-Doutta Stars.