Sport
13 March, 2024
Warriors and Homers Grand Final bound
The Warriors and Homers will meet each other again, this time in the A Grade two-day Grand Final in the Horsham Cricket Association following great wins on the weekend.
The Warriors had a comfortable win over the Tigers at Horsham City Oval winning by 107 runs. The Warriors won the toss and batted and put up 219 with Brett Jensz top-scoring with 65. Xavier Bone's 31 not out at number ten also hurt the Tigers.
David Puls, 3/14 was the pick of the bowlers for the Tigers.
On Sunday, with a huge total to reach, the Tigers' innings got off to a steady start with both openers, Brenton Hallam and Dom Rose, scoring 23 and 21 respectively.
When they fell, so did the wickets. Levi Mock unbeaten on 23 alongside Martyn Knight, 14 and David Puls, 10 showed resistance, but the Warriors bowling was too good led by Brad and Nathan Alexander and Xavier Bone and they bowled the Tigers out for 112.
Nathan took 3/21 and Bradley also claimed three wickets, finishing with 3/26. Bone took 2/32.
At Dimboola Recreation Reserve, the Homers defeated Bullants by 58 runs.
After winning the toss and batting, the Homers were bowled out for 154. Their top order struggled again and it was Adam Atwood, 35 and Monty Wynne, 31 scoring the bulk of the runs with the help of Chaminda Gamage with 20. Heath Lang took 5/48 for the Bullants.
In reply, Homers opening bowlers, Baxter and Gibson Perry bowled tight which made it hard for the Bullants openers to score. The Bullants lost Jordan McDonald early for a duck, caught by Luke Deutscher off Baxter Perry's bowling.
They slowly rebuilt, but the Homers bowlers made it difficult. Jamie Byrne was going along well for the Bullants but was dismissed for 25, caught by Adam Atwood off Joey Magorcka for 25. Not long after, Chaminda Gamage got the wicket of Kent Hair, getting him caught by Monty Wynne and the Bullants were 3/49.
Justtin Combe, 14, Shane Oakley, 5, and Trent Dumesny, 16 all put on partnerships but the Homers bowling was too good led by Chaminda Gamage as they bowled the Bullatns out for 96 in the 52nd over.
Gamage finished with 5/32.
COLTS AND PANTHERS WIN CLOSE GAMES
The Colts and Panthers will meet again in the two-day Grand Final in B Grade of the Horsham Cricket Association following wins over Quantong and Homers respectively on the weekend.
The Colts scraped home by three wickets against Quantong at Dudley Cornell Park. After winning the toss and batting on Saturday, Quantong declared at 8/129. Jack Vague was brilliant scoring 59 for Quantong whilst James McNeil, 3/25 was the best bowler for the Colts.
Joshua McCluskey and Kevin Purchase got the Colts off to a good start, scoring 27 and 22 respectively, but it was Ross Frew top scoring with 40 as they chased the total down in the 51st over, scoring 7/131.
Tim Brand was the pick of the bowlers for Quantong with 3/30.
At Minyip Recreation Reserve, the Panthers also got home by seven wickets over the Homers.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl on Saturday, they restricted the Homers to 9/142 off 47 overs. James Officer top scored for the Homers with 35 whilst Leigh Funcke, Gavin Young and Hugh Weidemann all took two wickets for the Panthers with Weidemann's figures of 2/17 the standout.
In reply, Nicholas Hudson was the star for the Panthers scoring 75. They chased the total down in the 43rd over with Connor Weidemann and Gavin Young unbeaten on 14 and 4 respectively.
Hugh Miller was the pick of the Homers bowlers with 3/19.
LUBECK MURTOA OUT IN STRAIGHT SETS
After going through the C Grade Horsham Cricket Association season unbeaten, Lubeck Murtoa has faltered in the finals, going out in straight sets with an 81-run loss to Colts at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.
The Mudlarks finished on top of the ladder and despite losing to Natimuk the week before, were favourites heading into the preliminary final.
After winning the toss and batting, the Colts put up 6/167 off their 40 overs led by Jay Couch with 47 and Chris Potter unbeaten on 43.
Matthew Friedlieb, 2/21 and Cameron Newell, 2/33 were the best bowlers for the Mudlarks.
In reply, great bowling from Drew Carmody, 2/9, Maydon Roll, 2/12, and Jay Couch, 2/4 troubled the Mudlarks as they were bowled out for 86.
Drew Gallatly was the top scorer for the Mudlarks with 38.
It has been a forgettable two weeks for the Mudlarks. The A-Grade forfeited their match against West Wimmera from a winning position just to support the C Grade in their qualifying final against Natimuk whilst the C Grade has fallen at the final hurdle after being dominant all season.